A Checklist for Early-Stage Technology Companies

Tuesday, 19 Mar 2002, 6:30 pm - refreshments; 7:00 pm - presentation
RA Centre - 2451 Riverside Dr

Presenters:

• Mr. Mark Burton: Mr. Burton heads Stikeman Elliott's Business Law and Technology Transactions practice in Ottawa. From 1998-2001, Mr. Burton was President and CEO of Digital Processing Systems Inc., a TSE-listed manufacturer of computer hardware and software products used throughout the world in the broadcast and post production industries. DPS was purchased in late 2000 by a competitor for $90 million. During a one-year secondment to the Ontario Securities Commission, Mark focused on the regulation of public company take-over bids, going private transactions, related party transactions and corporate finance. From 1989-1991, he practised corporate law with a major U.S. law firm. Mark is a graduate of Queen's University (B.Sc. Honours, Life Sciences, 1986) and University of Western Ontario (LL.B., with Distinction, 1990).
• Mr. Eugene Derényi: An associate who oversees the Patent Section of Stikeman Elliott's I.P. practice group. Practice is focused primarily on patent and industrial design protection and related due diligence, litigation and licensing. A member of the firm's Intellectual Property and Technology groups. Member, Information Technology and Competitiveness Committees of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada; Intellectual Property Law and Information Technology & Electronic Commerce sections of the Canadian Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Eugene is a graduate University of New Brunswick (B.Sc.E. Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering 1991) (LL.B. 1992). A Registered Patent Agent and Registered Trade-Mark Agent.

Content:

• The Idea: Customer-Centric vs. Technology Centric, Building The Team
• The Business Plan: Outline, Non-Disclosure Agreements, The Advisors
• Setting up Your Company: Incorporation, Organization, Shareholders' Agreements Tax Structuring.
• Employees: Employment Agreements: Contractors, IP and Confidentiality
• Protecting IP: Copyright, Trademarks, Patents, Trade Secrets.
• Financing the Business: Bank, Government, Private, Angels, VC's , Investment Banks, Strategic Equity,
• NRE Pre-Paid Royalties Co-Development, Public, The Exit Strategy, Built to Flip, IPO, Acquisition.

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(Modified: 27 feb 2004)