The law firm of Christian & Small, from Birmingham, has decided to start a practice focused on technology and emerging growth companies. The firm has even hired a lawyer from New York City who formerly worked as a hedge fund manager. The lawyer will be the co-chair of the practice. The practice will advise startup companies and small technology companies when it comes to equity investment, business structure, operating agreements and intellectual property issues.
The lawyer hired to co-chair the practice is Lavell Malloy, according to managing partner Debbie Smith.
“All of those things are really incredibly appealing to us, but also his interest in and knowledge about technology,” Smith said. “He’s really taken to really keep up with what’s going on in the tech world, and I think that’s a huge advantage.”
Malloy worked as a senior securities and corporate governance associate for Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP before founding and working as the CEO of Black Diamond Fund.
“I think in my career it’s probably the best move I’ve done,” Mallow said. “From a professional and personal standpoint, there are a lot of opportunities here and more and more people are going to start seeing these opportunities. I think I’m in a good place to help a lot of these companies and get them to the next level.”
“The biggest stigma I’ve seen so far is that people just don’t know,” he said. “People are not aware. They don’t realize there are already more than 500 tech companies that are prominent and not just in their basement. There are very influential private equity funds here that are already looking at these companies. My clients are those who I’m trying to bring to the table to sit down and find a synergy that works. I think the competition is always good for the (client). The only ones who benefit from competition are the individual companies and consumers.”