Chris has experience in Silicon Valley and Boston, working with companies and investors recognized around the world. DLC provides strategic legal counsel to start-ups, emerging companies, venture capital and other investors, as a scalable general counsel or on a project basis. Substantial experience through the life cycle of rapid growth companies, including: company organization, seed and VC financings, intellectual property, software, internet, SAAS, licensing and strategic partnerships, international expansion and M&A transactions.
Practice areas
Chris has designed licensing strategies in the consumer and enterprise markets, for independent software companies and joint product offerings, including software as a service (SAAS) and artificial intelligence - powered bots; and designed and implemented best practices for utilizing open source software for proprietary products. Chris’ work with Evernote involved a SAAS offering that sync’d across 25+ different product platforms and was localized in more than 20 regions around the world.
32 years
Chris has worked closely with a variety of businesses, primarily involving the use of technology and software, to develop business-to-business and consumer models, including direct sales and distribution and partner collaborations.
32 years
Extensive experience in SAAS (200M+ international users of Evernote service), application development and distribution, BOTS, and e-commerce, including the management of businesses subject to numerous international legal jurisdictions.
28 years
Chris has worked with operating companies to ensure the protection of internally-developed IP, as well as the acquisition of IP from third-parties through licensing, joint development, strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions. Chris has developed software and other IP distribution programs to enable emerging companies to partner with and leverage world-leading companies for product distribution and marketing, as well as programs with the leading app stores.
3 years
Chris has represented both operating companies and angel and venture investors, in seed stage through later round expansion capital transactions, including Safes and convertible debt, and has represented companies in venture debt and traditional debt transactions, in the US and for foreign subsidiaries. As GC, he led financings of over $230M for one of the first Silicon Valley “unicorns” ($1B+ valuation).
32 years
Chris has organized and counseled innumerable corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships under the laws of multiple states and foreign jurisdictions, and worked with senior management and boards of directors to ensure businesses are conducted according to legal requirements and established practices expected by venture investors and acquirers, to ensure companies avoid failures that can cause significant issues in connection with equity ownership, financings and acquisitions.
32 years
Chris has developed best practices documents and policies for employees in numerous states and countries to ensure a company’s proper on boarding and termination of employees, ownership of internally developed inventions, protection of confidential information and trade secrets, the retention of contractors, seconded employees and PEO resources, and creation and management of legally-required and best practices policies. Chris has developed and managed stock option + equity incentive programs.
32 years
Chris provided the legal guidance for Evernote’s expansion outside the US, including the creation and management of an international tax structure, R&D and cost-plus subsidiaries in more than 10 countries, the establishment of a Chinese - licensed internet service operation (utilizing a VIE structure and managing Chinese government restrictions), a joint venture with a state-owned business and importing and distribution of physical goods.
11 years
Languages spoken
English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
MA | Active | 1987 | 09/16/2019 |
Legal answers | 0 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
---|---|---|
Chairman, Business Law Section | Massachusetts Bar Association | 2002 |
Chairman, Technology Lawyers Practice | Massachusetts Bar Association | 2002 |
Chairman, Business Law Section | Massachusetts Bar Association | 2001 |
Chairman, Technology Lawyers Practice | Massachusetts Bar Association | 2001 |
Chairman, Technology Lawyers Practice | Massachusetts Bar Association | 2000 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
General Counsel, Secretary | Evernote Corporation | 2011 - 2016 |
Managing Partner | Dahl Legal Counsel | 2004 - 2011 |
Partner | Gesmer Updegrove | 1999 - 2004 |
Attorney | Stroock & Stroock & Lavan | 1989 - 1999 |
Attorney | Testa Hurwitz & Thibeault | 1987 - 1989 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Massachusetts Software Council | Legal Issues Planning Committee | 2001 - 2004 |
Massachusetts Bar Association, Business Law Section | Chairman | 2001 - 2002 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Ithaca College | B.S. | N/A |
Northeastern University | J.D. | N/A |
Howard Brown, Employment and labor Attorney on Jan 24, 2017
Relationship: Co-worker
I have known Chris for more than 20 years, when we worked together at a downtown Boston firm. I am very comfortable referring a client with a corporate or business issue to Chris and I have done so a number of times with good results. Chris has extensive practical experience in dealing with a wide variety of business, corporate and commercial legal issues. He is smart and highly competent with a reasonable, down-to-earth demeanor and approach. Highly recommended!
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Years licensed, work experience, education
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