Increasingly, U.S. law firms are getting involved in Canadian startup ventures, usually at the prompting of either their tech or venture capital clients. Among the more ubiquitous in Canadian financings, say Canadian tech lawyers, are Silicon Valley firms including Cooley, Fenwick & West and Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian. Elsewhere, Dorsey & Whitney, which has a Vancouver office; Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Choate Hall & Stewart are all increasingly visible.
The work that U.S. firms are doing for Canadian startups includes offering advice on incorporating U.S. subsidiaries; protecting intellectual property in the United States; and handling U.S. tax, employment and other matters. They’re also representing U.S. venture capital, private equity and angel investor funds on their Canadian tech investments.
