Sam Angus 
Partner, Corporate Group | Fenwick & West LLP
San Francisco, CA, UNITED STATES
Entrepreneurship and venture financing for start-ups have been long-standing specialties for this lawyer and conference panel moderator
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Biography
Mr. Angus is resident in the San Francisco office and his practice concentrates on advising start-up/venture-backed companies, venture capital and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property licensing, joint ventures and general corporate matters.
Mr. Angus represents a broad range of companies from privately held start-up companies to publicly traded corporations. His practice also includes advising entrepreneurs and investors.
Mr. Angus served as counsel for In-System Design, Inc. in connection with its acquisition by Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. He also counseled Naxon Corporation (Wineshopper.com) on its acquisition of Wine.com, Inc., Ingenio, Inc. on its acquisition by AT&T Yellow Pages, Junglee Corp. on its $300 million acquisition by Amazon.com, Inc., and Blue Lava Wireless on its $140 million acquisition by JAMDAT Mobile.
Prior to joining Fenwick & West, Mr. Angus practiced commercial lending law at Lillick & Charles. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Angus was a founder and the chief executive officer of Design Look Publications, Inc., a publisher of fine art calendars and other published gift products.
Mr. Angus sits on the advisory board of the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley. He also frequently lectures at the Haas School of Business and the Stanford Technology Ventures Program.
Mr. Angus received a Bachelor of Arts degree in law and society from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He received a J. D. from University of California Hastings College of the Law in 1993. At Hastings, he was the Executive Articles Editor for the Hastings International and Comparative Law Review.
Industry Expertise (9)
Legal Services
Corporate Leadership
Market Research
Investment Management
Corporate Training
Management Consulting
International Trade and Development
Business Services
Investment Banking
Areas of Expertise (8)
Start-Up/Venture-Backed Companies
Equity and Debt Financings
Mergers and Acquisitions
Securities Matters
Intellectual Property Licensing
Seed/Venture Capital Financings
Joint Ventures/Strategic Partnerships
Angel Investing
Accomplishments (2)
Executive Articles Editor - Hastings International and Comparative Law Review (professional)
While studying law, Sam served as the Executive Articles Editor for the Hastings International and Comparative Law Review. Founded in 1976, the Hastings International and Comparative Law Review (HICLR) was one of the first law journals in the country dedicated exclusively to legal discourse on the most pressing international and comparative legal issues. As a resource for both academics and practitioners, HICLR provides a forum for exchanging ideas on public and private international law.
Advisory Board Member - Lester Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (professional)
The Lester Center for Entrepreneurship is an internationally recognized program and the primary locus at Berkeley for the study and promotion of entrepreneurship and new enterprise development. The Lester Center:
- fosters teaching of successful entrepreneurship and innovation
- conducts research & disseminates knowledge on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial finance to the business and university communities
- facilitates interaction between the entrepreneurial community and the university
Education (2)
University of California, Santa Barbara: B.A., Law and Society 1985
University of California, Hastings College of the Law: Juris Doctor 1993
Executive Articles Editor, Hastings International and Comparative Law Review
Links (3)
Event Appearances (8)
The Changing Face of Venture Investing
Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum Lester Center for Entrepreneurship
Financing and Venture Capital/Angel Term Sheet Fundamentals
Web 2.0 Summit San Francisco, California
The Top Seed Companies to Watch
OnDemand 2011: Where the Internet Meets the Enterprise Palo Alto, California
2011-03-30
Closing the Capital Gap: Angels vs. VCs
OnHollywood: The Entertainment Venture Summit University of Southern California
2010-09-28
Strategic and Growth Company Investing in the Media and Entertainment World
OnHollywood: The Entertainment Venture Summit University of Southern California
2010-09-29
Report Card: VC Investment in Content Companies
OnMedia NYC: Where Silicon Valley Meets Madison Avenue New York City
2008-01-29
Closing The Capital Gap: Angels vs. VCs
OnMedia NYC 2011: Where Silicon Valley Meets Madison Avenue New York City
2011-02-01
The Super Angels Are Still Flying
Venture Summit Silicon Valley Half Moon Bay, California
2011-12-14
Sample Talks (4)
Early Stage Financing Workshop
This workshop encompasses best practices and strategies as they relate to preparing a company for investment, with a diverse range of examples provided. Amongst the topic covered:
1) Seed Investing Overview
2) VC Financing: Process and Overview
3) Term Sheet Valuation Issues
4) Preferred Stock Privileges
5) Investor Protections and Rights
6) Stock Purchase Terms
7) Conclusion
Strategic and Growth Company Investing in the Media and Entertainment World
Digital media and new technologies, from 3D to online video, have created new opportunities for strategic and growth equity investors. From VCs to PE firms to family offices, to the boardrooms of Burbank and the campfires at Sun Valley, everybody seems to be talking about the next big IPO, again! Where are these Investors finding opportunities, and is it really possible to get 10X in Hollywood?
Closing the Capital Gap: Angels vs. VCs
How is the traditional role of the VC evolving? Are Super Angels and Seed Funds offering more attractive alternatives for entrepreneurs? What's the best fit for your start-up? Hear both sides of the argument.
The Super Angels Are Still Flying
The Super Angel investors continue to turn the whole traditional venture capital model upside down. Many would argue that the early stage market is over-funded and represents a new bubble. This discussion will dissect the myths from reality.
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
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