Michelle W. Edwards
Michelle has advised clients for more than 25 years on a wide range of corporate matters, including venture capital, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and other strategic transactions.
Michelle Edwards provides strategic counseling to clients across the startup and venture capital ecosystem, representing both privately held companies and investors. She has advised clients on financing transactions, including strategic growth investments by private equity investors, venture capital preferred stock financings, and simple agreements for future equity (SAFE) and convertible note financings.
Michelle also has a robust M&A practice, advising private companies on the sell-side as well as public and private company acquirors. Over the course of her career, she has been the lead counsel on M&A and other strategic transactions, including joint ventures, with deal consideration ranging from $5 million to over $800 million.
Michelle spent several years playing a key role developing the corporate practice at leading U.S. law firms overseas and has significant experience managing multijurisdictional transactions.
Michelle is a frequent speaker and presenter on topics relating to startup companies, venture capital, and M&A.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- Stanford Law School, J.D., with distinction, 1994
- Stanford University, M.A., Russian and East European Studies, 1994
- Yale University, B.A., Political Science, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1991
Bar and Court Admissions
-
California
Related Employment
- VLP Law Group LLP, San Francisco, CA, Counsel, 2021
- Corporate Attorney, Beijing, China, Independent Consultant, 2013 – 2020
- Covington & Burling LLP, Beijing, China, Partner, 2012 – 2013
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., Palo Alto, CA and Shanghai, China, Partner, 2003 – 2011; Associate, 1997 – 2003
- Baker Botts, LLP, Houston, TX, Associate, 1994 – 1996
Professional Recognition
Listed in Thomson Reuters “Stand-out Lawyers,” 2023-2024
Insights
Professional Experience
Venture Capital
Michelle has represented both private companies and venture capital funds in numerous financing transactions, including preferred stock financings and SAFE and convertible note financings.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Michelle has represented private companies on the sell-side as well as public and private company acquirors. Representative transactions include:
Sale of Factor Creative
Represented Factor Creative LLC in its sale to Virtusa Corporation.
Sale of Principle Studios
Represented Principle Studios LLC in its sale to Shift Paradigm.
Sale of Solfice Research
Represented Solfice Research, Inc. (aka Civil Maps) in its sale to Luminar Technologies.
Acquisition of Squad Cast Studios
Represented Descript, Inc. in its acquisition of SquadCast Studios, Inc.
Acquisition of Yup Technologies
Represented Prenda, Inc. in its acquisition of Yup Technologies Inc.
Acquisition of A.T. Kearney
Represented Electronic Data Systems Corp. in its acquisition of A.T. Kearney.*
Acquisition of Indigo N.V.
Represented Hewlett-Packard in its acquisition of Indigo N.V.*
Acquisition of KosmoTime
Represented Chili Piper, Inc. in its acquisition of KosmoTime, Inc.*
Acquisition of Precise Software Solutions
Represented Veritas Software Corp. in its acquisition of Precise Software Solutions.*
Acquisition of Symbios Inc.
Represented LSI Logic Corp. in its acquisition of Symbios Inc.*
Acquisition of Productivity App Maker
Represented an advanced scheduling software company in its acquisition of a productivity app maker.*
Sale of 4for4
Represented 4for4 in its sale to Betsperts Media and Technology Group.*
Sale of Jato Technologies
Represented Jato Technologies, Inc. in its sale to Level One Communications, Inc.*
Sale of Joinder
Represented Joinder, Inc. in its sale to Brightflag.*
Sale of Experience Management and Insight Community Platform
Represented an experience management and insight community platform in its acquisition by a market research software and services company.*
Sale of Management Software Company
Represented a project management software company in its acquisition by an international management software company.*
*Prior experience
Other Transactions
PE Growth Investments
- Represented RS Technologies Inc. in a strategic equity investment by Energy Impact Partners.
- Represented Sales Rabbit, Inc. in a significant growth investment by Diversis Capital.*
Delaware Flip of Cayman Islands Company
- Represented a private company in its conversion from a Cayman Islands company to a Delaware company, and related restructuring.
Strategic Transaction between Medical Consumer Device Company and Global Health Care Conglomerate
- Represented a medical consumer device company in its strategic transaction with a global healthcare conglomerate.*
3Com/Huawei Joint Venture
- Represented 3Com Corporation in its joint venture with Huawei.*
Initial Public Offerings
- Represented a number of issuers in their initial public offerings and listings on the Nasdaq or NYSE, including Eagle USA Airfreight, E-Stamp, Resonate, Inc., and Spreadtrum Communications, among others.*
*Prior experience