Skip to main content
|

Add a bookmark to get started

Bookmarks info
Jonathan Axelrad

Jonathan Axelrad

Partner
San Francisco
About

Jonathan Axelrad represents emerging growth companies from formation through exit.

Jonathan routinely counsels companies in equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, public market transactions, executive compensation and benefits, corporate governance matters and other complex strategic business transactions. He also represents venture capital and private equity funds, executives and angel investors that invest in early-stage companies.

Areas of FocusCorporateEmerging Growth and Venture CapitalEnergy and Natural ResourcesLife SciencesMergers and AcquisitionsTechnology
Bar admissionsCalifornia

EXPERIENCE

Representative experience

  • AEye, Inc (NASDAQ: LIDR), the global leader in adaptive, high-performance LiDAR solutions, from its Series A investment through the recent closing and public listing on the NASDAQ via a business combination with CF Finance Acquisition Corp. III, a special purpose acquisition company that valued AEye pre-closing at over US$1.5 billion.
  • Navitas Semiconductor (NASDAQ: NVTS), the industry leader in next-generation semiconductor technology from formation through its US$1.04 billion going-public merger with Live Oak Acquisition Corp. II, a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company.
  • Streetlight Data, a pioneer in mobility analytics, from its Series C financing through acquisition by Jacobs (NYSE:J).
  • Lux Capital, Congruent Ventures, and Wireframe Ventures in numerous venture financings.
Languages
  • English
  • Japanese
  • French
Education
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center 2004
    Georgetown International Law Journal
    cum laude
  • B.A., University of Victoria 1997
    with distinction

Awards

  • The Legal 500 United States
    2016 - Recommended, Private Equity Buyouts
    2016 - Recommended, Venture Capital & Emerging

Pro Bono

On a pro bono basis, Jonathan has represented Cyclotron Road, the Harvard Business School Green Business Alumni Association, Energy Crossroads and the American Jewish Committee.

Insight Overview

Jonathan is a frequent speaker on issues related to emerging growth companies, including new business formation, venture financing, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance.

Seminars

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • "Venture Capital 2015: Nuts and Bolts," Practising Law Institute (PLI), San Francisco, 2015
  • "Private Company M&A and the Angel Investor," Band of Angels, 2014
  • "Cleantech Past, Present and Future: Solutions for a Troubled Planet?," AJC Business and Technology Series, California, 2013
  • "Insight into innovation," Environmental Business Cluster's CEO Roundtable, San Jose, California, 2012
  • "Nuts and Bolts of Managing Your Early-Stage Startup through the Initial Valley of Death," MIT, Boston, 2012

Prior Experience

Earlier in his career, Jonathan practiced corporate law in New York and Washington, DC, and held legal clerkships with the SEC and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper Represents Imprint Energy Sale to CCL Industries

7 August 2023 .2 minute read

News

DLA Piper advises SPAN in securing US$96 million in Series B2 funding round

26 April 2023 .2 minute read

News

DLA Piper advises StreetLight Data in its acquisition by Jacobs

10 February 2022 .4 minute read

View All

Connect

Phone

+1 415 836 2560
(Work, San Francisco)
CallvCardLinkedInPrint
Privacy policyLegal noticesCookie policyModern slaveryWhistleblowingSitemap

DLA Piper is a global law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. For further information about these entities and DLA Piper's structure, please refer to the Legal Notices page of this website. All rights reserved. Attorney advertising.

© 2023 DLA Piper