Steven D. Ryan, one of the DC region’s startup scene’s rising stars, is joining Pillsbury as a partner in the firm’s Corporate and Securities-Technology practice. Ryan comes to the firm from Crowell & Moring, where he served as co-leader of the Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice.
“Steve has an established track record of helping venture-backed companies and founders strategize, whether that’s to secure funding, solve complex issues, navigate risks or achieve other long-term business objectives,” said Christina Pearson, Pillsbury’s Global Head of Corporate and Securities-Technology. “His arrival adds critical depth and experience to Pillsbury’s existing tech sector strengths and greatly enhances our ability to serve our expansive roster of EC/VC clients on the East Coast.”
Ryan advises emerging growth companies, venture capital firms, institutional strategic (CVC) and angel investors on financings, mergers & acquisitions, and general corporate governance matters with a strong emphasis on representing private high-growth companies and venture capital investment firms. He routinely serves as outside general counsel to clients, assisting them with board governance, evaluating and executing financing alternatives, securing and protecting intellectual property, stakeholder management, and accessing specialized legal resources. Ryan is also designated as a Chartered Financial Analyst and is a member of the CFA Society of Washington, D.C.
“Pillsbury is one of the few elite law firms when it comes to emerging companies and venture capital work,” Ryan said. “The firm’s experience with and understanding of startups and funders, and their comprehensive knowledge of the technology industry, present an ideal platform for clients. I am honored to be a part of that and look forward to working closely with so many outstanding practitioners, both here in the DC region and across the firm’s international network.”
Ryan marks the second Emerging Growth and Venture Capital partner to join Pillsbury in as many months. In February, the firm welcomed San Francisco partner Matt Kirmayer, who represents companies operating in the software, educational technology, digital media, social media, artificial intelligence systems, robotics and life sciences sectors. Kirmayer was the third partner to join Pillsbury’s Bay Area offices in five months. Pillsbury has nearly 150 lawyers in the Bay Area, with offices in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
With one of the largest and most diversified Emerging Growth & Venture Capital practices in the industry, Pillsbury helps entrepreneurs, emerging companies and investors drive the innovation that changes our world. The firm’s lawyers take shoestring startups to market-leading positions, serving clients as trusted advisors every step of the way. Pillsbury’s long and storied history includes involvement in the formation, venture financing and IPOs of groundbreaking technology companies such as Intel, WebEx and other “unicorns.” Refinitiv regularly ranks Pillsbury among the Top 6 most active law firms worldwide for VC financings, and Pitchbook recently counted the firm among the Top 14 most active in the world (for company representation) and in the United States, as well as in two of the fastest growing startup segments: Biotech and Energy.
