On January 3, 2012, the 2011 Update to "Representing Start-Up Companies," by Lee R. Petillon, Robert Joe Hull and Mark T. Hiraide, was released by the publisher, Thomsen Reuters. This two volume work, originally published in 1992, is now in its 19th edition.
On December 14, 2011, Mark Hiraide testified before the UNITED STATES COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS' SUBCOMMITTEE ON SECURITIES, INSURANCE, AND INVESTMENT at its hearing on Examining Investor Risks in Capital Raising. Mark provided his analysis of Congressional legislation relating to federal and state securities laws. Click here for more information about the hearing.
On November 17, 2011, Mark Hiraide conducted the State Bar's Business Law Section seminar, "How To Series in California Securities Law."
On November 3, 2011, Mark Hiraide conducted a seminar for the Beverly Hills Bar Association, “Securities Issues Affecting Small Businesses.”
On October 13, 2011, Lee Petillon and Roger Loomis conducted the State Bar's Business Law Section seminar, "Securities Laws Governing Private Offerings in California."
On October 11, 2011, Lee Petillon and Roger Loomis conducted the State Bar's Business Law Section seminar, "How To Series: Nuts and Bolts of Forming Corporations."
On September 18, 2011, Mark Hiraide spoke at the 2011 State Bar Annual Convention's continuing education program, "Top Issues in International M&A."
On June 14, 2011, Mark Hiraide was a panelist in the "Protecting Your Deal," in the Reverse Merger Conference in Los Angeles sponsored by Deal Flow Media.
On June 1, 2011, Mark Hiraide moderated a panel discussion on corporate governance, "Broads on Boards," sponsored by BroadsCircle. BroadsCircle is a Los Angeles-based executive level networking group with a focus on women executives.
On May 11, 2011, Lee Petillon, Mark Hiraide and Roger Loomis conducted the State Bar's "2011 What's New on the Horizon: Hot Topics in Corporate Law" webinar. The program, sponsored by the Business Law Section, Corporations Committee of the State Bar of California, included a discussion of California's Capital Access Company Law, which provides for publicly held venture capital funds in California exempt from regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Mr. Petillon is the law's author.
On March 11, 2011, Mark Hiraide spoke at the Annual Professional Seminar of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) on the topic, "Recent Developments in SEC and DOJ Efforts to Combat Fraud: Whisteblowers, Wiretaps and the FCPA."
On February 24, 2011 Mark Hiraide joined Karol L. Pollock, Assistant Director of the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Dan Smith, Managing Director of ACA Compliance Group, in the program, "Impact of the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act on Broker-Dealer Regulation and Regulation of Investment Advisers: Regulation of Advisers to Private Equity Funds, Venture Capital Funds and Hedge Funds."
On September 25, 2010, Roger Loomis participated in a program sponsored by the International Law Section of the State Bar. The program, "Structuring International Transactions," featured a four person panel of experts on international transactions, including, in addition to Roger, Jeffery Daar, of Daar & Newman, Albert Golbert, of Golbert & Associates and Ann Longmore of Willis Insurance. Over 100 attendees learned the nuts and bolts of international transactions from the distinguished panel.
On August 19, 2010, Mark Hiraide and Francis Ryu conducted a program on Business Law for the Beverly Hills Bar Association / Barristers' 10th Annual Practical Aspects of Practicing Law. Mark instructed business lawyers about securities law issues in practicing business law. The business law program is part of a comprehensive 9-week series on various areas of law including, Business Law, Entertainment Law, Real Estate Law, Criminal Law, Immigration Law, Family Law, Probate & Conservatorship, Civil Procedure/Discovery and Law Office Management.
In June 2010, Roger Loomis conducted two webinars for ExecSense Webinars, "Getting Your VC-Funded Company to an IPO – What It Takes to Get There, Deciding Whether It Makes Sense for Your Company & New Rules and Regulations Regarding the IPO Process" and "Getting Your Portfolio Company to an IPO in 2010-2011 – What It Takes to Get There, Deciding Whether It Makes Sense for Your Portfolio Company & New Rules and Regulations Regarding the IPO Process." Roger discussed the most important practical, strategic, legal, and financial considerations surrounding IPOs for CEOs and Venture Capitalists, including the impact of the current economy, the role of venture capitalists, investment bankers, accountants, lawyers, and other professionals in the lead-up process, and the most up-to-date strategies for how to navigate the IPO registration and offering processes.
In July 2010, Lee Petillon authored an article entitled, "Securities Laws Governing Private Offerings in California," for the 2010 Issue No. 2 of the Business Law News, a publication of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California. The State Bar's Business Law Section serves as a forum to educate attorney members on recent developments and current issues in all fields of business law and provides a vehicle for the business bar to communicate with the general public, the California Legislature, regulatory agencies, business trade associations, and other interested groups.
In April 2010, Roger Loomis conducted a webinar for ExecSense Webinar entitled, "What CEOs of VC-Funded Companies Need to Know About Getting the Most Out of Their Board of Directors." Roger discussed the role of venture capital investors on boards of directors and strategies for leveraging the contacts, expertise and network of each board member, keeping board members more engaged, and strengthening relationships with board members. ExecSense is the world's largest publisher of webinars led by top business executives, legal executives, and industry experts. ExecSense webinars feature C-Level executives from hundreds of blue chip companies, senior Partners from the largest law firms, and thought leaders from some of the world's most prestigious firms. Speakers are selected by the ExecSense editorial board based on their expertise.
The January, 2010, issue of the Minority and Small Business Review features an article by Lee Petillon that discusses equity financing of start-up and emerging growth companies and the related federal and state securities laws applicable to financings. The Minority and Small Business Review is published annually by the Center for the Study of Minority and Small Business and the Department of Business Administration at the University of the West. The Review features articles on various aspects of business operations, including accounting/tax issues, problems in management, strategies to deal with competition and sources for financing.
On February 24, 2010, Lee Petillon lead a panel of experts in early-stage financing in the Maverick Angels Academy Program entitled, "Secrets to Negotiating Successful Valuations and Win-Win Term Sheets." Maverick Angels is an innovative angel investor network based in Southern California, which focuses on funding and mentoring early-stage companies.
On January 21, 2010, Mark Hiraide joined Paul Weisbrich, Senior Managing Director of McGladrey Capital Markets, Gail Bernstein, Executive Vice President, PNC Business Credit, Linda Curtis, Partner, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Paul Wolf, Managing Partner, Century Park Capital Partners and Darya Allen-Attar of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney on the Program, "How to Survive and Capitalize in this Tumultuous Period." Mark discussed the current state of public equity markets and current financing structures for middle-market companies.
On Wednesday, February 4, 2009, Mark Hiraide and Roger Loomis were panelists at a luncheon meeting of the International Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association at the offices of the Bar Association in Los Angeles, 261 S. Figueroa Street. The topic of the meeting was "Structuring International Transactions," and Mark and Roger discussed corporate and securities issues along with an outstanding panel of experts who reviewed finance, tax, accounting and other issues concerning clients engaged in international transactions."
Lee Petillon, a partner of the firm, participated as a judge in the First Annual Business Plan Competition on January 23, 2009, sponsored by the College of Business and Public Policy at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
The competition was open to all students on campus. There were seven finalists selected by four judges including Lee.
In addition, Petillon Hiraide and Loomis LLP donated ten hours of the firm's time to the first prize winner.
CSUDH student newspaper article describing the competition. [click here]