Tom Cervantez

Tom is a co-founder of Business Counsel Law Group LLP and has over 18 years experience working as a lawyer in the venture capital and startup technology company field in Silicon Valley. Tom's core area of law practice is the securities and finance field, with a focus on helping emerging growth companies, venture funds, and software and hardware computer companies navigate issues concerning new entity choice/formation, venture financing, securities, capital structure planning, private placements, mergers and acquisitions, and licensing transactions.

Tom has also started and sold companies and is an active angel investor. On the operating side, Tom participated at an operating level at several companies, including a venture fund, boutique investment bank, ISP (Genet sold to Level3 in 1998), and a law firm (Britton Silberman Cervantez sold to Thelen Reid 2000). Tom is also active in the Silicon Valley angel investor community, having founded the Harvard Angels (alumni angel group for HBS NorCal and Harvard Club SF) and the Golden Gate Angels. With regard to his angel activities, Tom focuses on the Internet, computer, communications and networking sectors (sample early stage investments include Open Table (IPO 2009), Friendster (acquired 2010), Genet (acquired by Level3), Specialty's Café & Bakery and others).

Prior to co-founding Business Counsel Law Group, Tom was a partner for 5 years in the San Francisco office of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP and a partner for 5 years in the San Francisco office of Thelen Reid & Priest LLP. Tom also had worked as an Auditor with the National Association of Securities Dealers, running oversight and conducting securities law enforcement audits for 50 small to mid-size investment banks from Los Angeles to San Diego.

Tom holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration, magna cum laude, from Loyola Marymount University, a JD from Harvard Law School and a MBA from Harvard Business School.