Dentons' venture technology practice, based in the firm's Short Hills office, was busy in 2018—according to the firm, it “collectively closed 200+ deals, ranging from M&A to early stage venture capital to seed round representations.” Engagements included its representation of ElectroCore Inc. in its initial public offering in a transaction valued at $89 million, its involvement in Providence Equity Partners' acquisition of software company DoubleVerify, and representation of real estate transaction portal OfferPad for its Series B financing. Also in 2018, the firm held the inaugural “Women in Tech Roundtable,” which is to be a quarterly series of events.

**The responses were provided by Victor Boyajian, a Dentons partner and head of the firm's global venture technology practice.**

What were some of your most satisfying successes of 2018, and why?

It's always very satisfying to see our clients grow. This past year we saw several clients we had worked with since their seed phase enter their exit phase and be purchased for hundreds of millions of dollars. We've also achieved excellent ranking from one of the key industry analytics organizations where we've ranked in the top 10 of key categories.

What recent economic factors have affected your practice area?

Regardless of where a client is located, the economy is becoming increasingly global. The reality in this industry is that a deal may start out in Metro New York, but then end up with financing from Sydney. A startup in Silicon Valley may catch the eye of investors in Europe, or a Germany-based biotech company may seek a collaboration with a pharmaceuticals company in New Jersey. When a major payments company wanted to launch a product globally in 75 jurisdictions worldwide, we got the call. When a New York-based company wanted to expand to London, we got the call. We have an integrated global practice, which is why we've seen such terrific growth in our practice both in the U.S. and globally.

Amid a changing market for legal services, what does it take to become a trusted transactional lawyer in New Jersey?

I think it's important to have a worldview. By that I don't just mean global, though we have that. I mean the perspective of the client's world. A strategic/business advisor above all else. When you hire us, you get a strategic advisor who provides business and strategic judgment. We are in it with our clients for the long haul. So, if someone wants a legal vendor who will just let them know filing deadlines and things like that, we're not the right firm. We partner with our clients with a comprehensive growth strategy. All we require is clients to think big with a view towards disrupting markets.

A prospective client in crisis calls and asks why your team should be retained. What is your answer?

Clients who call us know that they will have the attention of one of the senior people on the team, who will start work on the crisis immediately. There is no worry about finding the skill set—we definitely have the breadth. They are going to receive holistic advice and counsel without any silos within our firm. Of course we understand the technical legal aspects, but we also bring the business advice that approaches the crisis from the sides of all the constituencies, whether it's the C-suite, the board, the shareholders, the customers and employees, and even the competition. When a Princeton-based venture firm had political issues in Russia, we got the call. When a major ride-sharing firm wanted to break into key markets, we got the call. When the board wants to hire special counsel in its IPO or a patent litigation in Silicon Valley, we get the call.

Dealmakers are extraordinarily busy people. What does the firm do to ensure that they remain engaged with pro bono work, their communities and their families?

One of the core principles of Dentons is that we are in and of the community, which means contributing to the betterment of our communities. I'm particularly passionate about working with organizations that help kids both in the U.S. and globally, especially in education. For years, Dentons worked with the school system in Newark to teach advocacy skills on Saturdays to kids from grades 7-12. For eight weeks, eight to 10 lawyers (from associates to partners) would teach advocacy and help kids understand what it takes for success in the business world. We also frequently partner with clients for pro bono work. Recently, a client who was aware of our shared commitment to education asked us to partner with them in an education program for underprivileged kids in Washington, D.C.