Startup Exits Explained: IPOs, M&A, and the Lawyer’s Role
2026-02-05 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Alumni Reception Center, 200 McAllister St, San Francisco, 94102, United States
What does it really mean for a startup to “exit”? From strategic M&A to IPOs and secondary transactions, exits are defining moments for founders, investors, and counsel alike. This lunch-time panel brings together company counsel, investor counsel, and buyer counsel to unpack how exits actually work in practice, with a particular focus on M&A transactions. The discussion will explore how incentives diverge among stakeholders, how the exit market has evolved, and where junior lawyers can add real value early in their careers.
Francesca Crisera Ruiz, M&A Partner at Squire Patton Boggs (Hastings ‘04)
Heidi Walas, Corporate ECVC Partner at Gunderson Dettmer (Hastings ’07)
Jake Winton, Associate General Counsel at 8VC (Hastings ’20)
Moderator: Professor Evan Epstein, UC Law SF
