Laurence P. Naughton

Mr. Naughton is co-chair of the firm’s Business & Technology Group.

Mr. Naughton has been listed in the Legal 500 as a leading attorney on the East Coast for mergers and acquisitions work, as well as in Chambers USA on multiple occasions as a leading lawyer in the areas of corporate law and mergers and acquisitions.  Irish America magazine selected him for their "Top Legal 100," a list of the most influential Irish-Americans in the legal profession.  Mr. Naughton also has been listed as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer on multiple occasions.  

Practice Focus

Business & Technology:  represents growth-oriented companies ranging from start-up stage to global public companies in a wide range of industries.  He counsels these companies in connection with initial formation, financings, licensing and strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and corporate governance.  A significant portion of his work in this area involves cross-border transactions.

Mergers & Acquisitions:  national and international mergers and acquisitions on behalf of both strategic and financial entities, including mergers, acquisitions, sales and leveraged buyouts.

Cross-Border:  regularly counsels UK, Irish, Canadian, and other non-US companies and investment firms in connection with activities in the US, including acquisitions, financings, licenses and strategic partnerships.

Private Equity:  representation of private equity and venture capital funds in connection with their investment activities, including minority and growth equity investments, acquisitions, recapitalizations and dispositions. 

Representative Engagements

• Representation of numerous companies in seed, Series A and successive rounds of venture capital and growth equity financings.
• Representation of leading private equity firm in acquisition and disposition of multiple portfolio companies in consumer retail industry.
• Representation of European-based software company in acquisition of technology from Microsoft IP Ventures.
• Representation of leading venture capital firm in financing of healthcare IT company. 
• Representation of venture capital-backed company in license transaction with Fortune 200 financial services company.
• Representation of portfolio company of UK-based private equity firm in acquisition of US company to launch operations in the US.
• Representation of digital media company in formation and multiple rounds of financings to fund growth of operations in China. 
• Representation of founder-owned digital asset management company in sale to leading private equity firm. 
• Representation of European-based venture capital-backed company in reorganization into Delaware corporation and related round of venture capital financing. 
• Representation of leading US venture capital firm in financing of Canadian-based e-commerce company.
• Representation of software company in sale to Nasdaq-listed company.
• Representation of publicly-traded company in connection with strategic partnership with Fortune 500 company.

Publications and Presentations

• "What Technology Companies Need to Know About Navigating the U.S. Legal System,” presenter, Launch In US Alliance, December 2011.
• “Key Issues in Complex M&A,” panelist, Association of Corporate Counsel, Northeast Chapter, December 2011
• “Challenges and Opportunities in Seeking Funding from U.S. VCs,” presenter, Swissnex Boston, June 2011.
• “Mini Seedcamp New York,” mentor, Seedcamp, New York, June 2011.
• “Obtaining U.S. Venture Capital in the New Paradigm,” author, AccountAbility Way, October 2010.
• "Crossing the Border: Key Legal Considerations in Acquiring a U.S.-based Company," co-author, Enterprise Ireland, February 2010.
• “How to Hit a Homer with a VC,” co-author, Business & Finance, January 2010.
• “Startups Learn to Stretch their Finances,” quoted, Mass High Tech, December 2009.
• “Drafting Commercial Documents – Equity Financing Agreements,” presenter, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education.
• “Acquiring Technology Companies – Key Legal Considerations,” presenter, International Acquisitions Conference, Dublin, Ireland, September 2007.

Professional and Community Involvement

Mr. Naughton is a member of the Boston Bar Association and a former member of the firm’s Executive Committee.

Mr. Naughton is one of three co-founders of the Holy Cross Emerging Technologies Group, an alumni affinity group of the College of the Holy Cross.