Christopher Dayans

Formation, Financing and M&A

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To be a truly successful leader, you need to not only know your targets and goals, but also know and acknowledge what you don’t know, and then surround yourself with others to help achieve your collective desired results.

Professional Background

I am a venture capital and emerging companies lawyer, representing private companies and entrepreneurs in venture finance, mergers and acquisitions, and other matters.

My practice has largely focused on counseling emerging growth companies in venture capital financing transactions and midsize companies in mergers and acquisitions transactions, but I have also acted as general counsel for companies across a wide range of industries.

I have worked at several law firms—including in the Moscow offices of a global firm—but I feel right at home at Manatt in San Francisco, where I am now located. I joined Manatt along with the co-lead of Manatt for Entrepreneurs, Rich McDerby, because we recognized that while San Francisco is the epicenter of entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, Manatt is uniquely structured to foster that creativity to build durable, lucrative businesses. This program is evidence of that holistic approach.

Representative Experience With Emerging Companies

  • Represented and advised the lead investor in its investments in emerging pharmaceutical companies, including a $53 million Series C Preferred Stock financing round and a $70 million Series B Preferred Stock financing round.
  • Represented an enterprise security solutions software development company from its inception through several private placements, including a $1 million convertible note round, a $2.25 million Series Seed qualified financing round and an $8.8 million Series A financing round.
  • Represented and advised a takeaway food restaurant in several private placements totaling $7 million, including three convertible note rounds and a debt round, followed by two separate financing rounds.
  • Represented a software company in the sale of a 75% stake in the company to an Atlanta-based private equity firm in a transaction with a total value of $37 million. The transaction included the restructuring of the capital structure of the company and advising the company’s management team with respect to rolling $10 million of equity into Series A preferred stock.
  • Represented a manufacturer of video cameras in its sale to a large private company in the access and control space in an asset transaction with a total value of $23.5 million.
  • Served as counsel to a startup accelerator with respect to its investments in media-focused emerging growth technology companies.
  • Represented a purchaser in its simultaneous acquisition of an online fundraising platform and closing of a $7 million Series A Preferred Stock financing round.

Area of Focus

  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Corporate and finance
  • Private equity and buyouts
My Advice to Entrepreneurs

As a startup, understand the need to be frugal. There are some issues you can likely handle on your own, but it is important to seek professional advice early on to ensure a solid legal and financial foundation.