Riaz A. Karamali

Additionally, Riaz co-leads Pillsbury’s BOSS (Black-Owned Startup Support) Lab, an initiative formed in 2020 as part of Pillsbury’s commitment to help increase access and opportunity for Black-owned startups, dedicated to providing pro bono legal services and other support to promising, potentially high growth Black-founded startups, working to address the systemic inequities that have resulted in Black founders representing only one percent of venture-backed startups.

• Representative VC Financings Experience
  • Represented a Web 3 “learn-to-earn” platform, Proof of Learn, in its $15 million funding round led by New Enterprise Associates.
  • Represented leading content developer and publisher for some of the world’s most recognizable nonfungible token (NFT) collectibles and video game art, Concept Art House, Inc., in its $25 million Series A financing from leading investors, NFT platforms and angel investors, including prominent CEOs and tech founders.
  • Represented developer of gaming tool Athenascope, Inc. in its seed financing and Series A financing, both led by First Round Capital.
  • Represented the cutting-edge developer of an artificial intelligence support assistant Ohai.ai in its $6 million seed financing round co-led by Eniac Ventures and LifeX Ventures.
  • Represented Bess Ventures in an investment in the $224 million funding round of Blaize, a provider of full-stack artificial intelligence solutions for automotive and edge computing.
  • Represented Alpha Praetorian Capital as lead investor in an investment in the $20.8 million series seed financing of INFLUENCE, a developer of a venture investing platform.
  • Represented grocery store-hailing autonomous vehicles startup Robomart in its seed financing led by SOSV.
  • Represented Liberty City Ventures as lead investor in its seed financing of Reposite, a workspace platform for the travel industry.
  • Represented revolutionary cryptocurrency startup Chia Network Inc. in its seed financing.
  • Represented visual stethoscope developer HD Medical Inc. in its strategic investment by Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
  • Represented Blockchain Capital in portfolio investments in blockchain startups.
  • Advises cryptocurrency and blockchain startups on securities law issues related to token pre-sales, SAFTs and initial coin offerings.
  • Represented crowdfunding platform Fig in its seed financing and Series A financing led by Spark Capital and Greycroft.
  • Represented multinational SaaS software provider FreshDesk Inc. in its Series E preferred stock financing round, led by Tiger Global, Accel U.S. and Google Capital, as well as its Series F preferred stock financing round, led by Accel U.S. and Sequoia India.
  • Represented Canadian investor Sprott TWM SPV LP in an investment in the Series A Preferred Stock of Tradewind Markets, a fintech company creating a gold exchange based on blockchain technologies.
  • Represented FullCycle Energy Fund, L.P. and FullCycle Climate Partners, LP in their formation and investment activities.
  • Represented videogame company Realta Entertainment Group, Inc. in its Series A and Series B financings.
  • Represents a number of venture capital funds and investment groups including Keiretsu Capital, Blockchain Capital, S2G Ventures and The Husseini Group.
  • Represented DNA-based pathogen testing technology company PathogenDX in its Series B financing, led by Cresco Capital Partners.
  • Represented cannabis and hemp decontamination technology company Willow Industries in its venture funding, co-led by AFI Capital Partners and Welcan Capital.
• Representative Mergers & Acquisitions Experience
  • Represented gaming products maker Razer in its acquisition of Controller Gear from its parent company Marketing Instinct.
  • Represented business process outsourcing company Knoah Solutions, Inc. in its acquisition by 24-7 Intouch.
  • Represented producer of hybrid and electric powertrain solutions for commercial vehicles Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. in its sale to Cummins Inc.
  • Represented special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Blockchain Coinvestors Acquisition Corp. in its acquisition of Qenta Inc.
  • Represented producer of processing and test equipment design for the semiconductor and electronics product manufacturing industry GES Holdings, Inc. in its sale to Kimball Electronics, Inc. for $50 million.
  • Represented equity management software platform Solium Capital LLC in its acquisition of Capshare Inc.
  • Represented product engineering company INVECAS, Inc. in its acquisition of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation’s HDMI design team and Simplay Labs subsidiary.
  • Represented call center software company KnoahSoft Inc. in its sale to Avaya.
  • Represented enterprise software company ExactBid Inc. in its sale to Spectrum Equity.
  • Represented leading content developer and publisher for some of the world’s most recognizable nonfungible token (NFT) collectibles and video game art, Concept Art House, Inc., in implementing its Crypto Art House initiative in connection with numerous opportunities around NFTs, and in its acquisition by Zattikka PLC (and subsequently represented the former).
  • Represented internet videogame company A Bit Lucky Inc. in its acquisition by Zynga Inc.
  • Represented Element Partners in connection with its multinational acquisition of Soleras Ltd. and the industrial coating business of Bekaert NV in a simultaneous roll-up transaction with operations in the U.S., Belgium and China.
  • Significant experience with cross-border transactions involving numerous countries, including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the Cayman Islands, China, Dubai, Egypt, France, Belgium, Germany, Honduras, India, Israel, Jordan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey.
  • Represented an aerospace defense contractor in its acquisition by a Fortune 500 defense contractor.
  • Represented an educational publishing company in its acquisition by one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations.
• Representative Licensing & Technology Transactions and Outsourcing Experience
  • Represented videogame company Concept Art House, Inc. in negotiating a strategic partnership with Chinese public company Talkweb.
  • Represented a Fortune 100 web portal in negotiating and documenting a multiyear strategic alliance with leading technology media company that includes content licensing, internet advertising, software distribution and search marketing components.
  • Represented a leading multinational telecommunications company in connection with a nation-wide lease management outsourcing project.
  • Represented a Fortune 100 technology distribution company in a major business process outsourcing engagement involving transfer of numerous functions across three “towers” (finance, sales and product management) to two major outsourcing service providers with facilities in India and the Philippines.
  • Represented a data management and data protection solution provider in the negotiation of a manufacturing outsourcing agreement.
  • Represented an offshore outsourcing company that provides multichannel customer and technical support, business process outsourcing and concierge services with their outsourcing agreements.

• Honors & Awards
  • Chambers USA, IT & IT Outsourcing—California (2011 – 2013)
  • The Legal 500 U.S., Technology: Transactions (2010 – 2013)
• Speaking Engagements
  • “NFTs, IP and Games 2021: A Brave New World at the Speed of Light,” Practising Law Institute Webcast (May 2021).
  • “Food Industry Disruption and Innovation,” Pillsbury Client Webinar (May 2019).
  • “Blockchains, Smart Contracts and the Law,” Token Fest (March 2018).
  • “Opportunities and Risks in Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies,” Berkeley Blockchain Panel (November 2017).
  • “Will Blockchain Change Your Life? Opportunities & Applications,” presentation at the OPEN Global Retreat (August 2017).
  • “What Are Blockchain Smart Contracts and How Do They Work?” part of Blockchain 102 Webinar – Pillsbury client webinar (June 2017).
  • “Cross-Border M&A and Strategic Investments,” presentation to Silicon Valley Technology Venture Launch Program (June 2017).
  • “Is the Blockchain All Hype or the Next Industrial Revolution?” SV Forum FinTech Evolution Conference: Banking on the Blockchain (May 2017).
  • “Making Sense of Blockchain Smart Contracts,” OPEN Forum – Silicon Valley (April 2017).
  • “Venture Fundraising in Silicon Valley,” presentation to Silicon Valley Technology Venture Launch Program (March 2017).
  • “Silicon Valley Startup Funding Trends,” Idea to IPO Event (February 2017).
  • “Blockchain 101 Webinar: Understanding Blockchain and Its Application,” Pillsbury client webinar (2016).
  • “2016 Gowlings / Pillsbury Blockchain Symposium,” Toronto (2016). Panelist.
  • “The REAL Art of the Deal: Negotiating for Fun and Profit,” OPEN Forum – Silicon Valley (2016).
  • “The Funding Landscape for New Cloud and SaaS Startups,” Venture Panel Moderator, TIECON (2016).
  • “Legal Due Diligence: Dodging a Bullet,” presentation to Keiretsu Forum with Deborah Carrillo (2016).
  • “Blockchain Technology and Smart Contracts,” Pillsbury SF (2015).
  • “The Art of Negotiation: Practical Tips for Entrepreneurs,” OPEN Forum – Silicon Valley (2015).
  • “Legal Perspectives on Corporate Governance: Boards and Advisory Boards,” GlobalPrivat (2015).
  • “Introduction to Silicon Valley’s Startup Culture and Ecosystem,” Oxford Entrepreneurs (2015).
  • “Fundraising 101: A Deal Lawyer’s Perspective,” Founders Space (2014).
  • “Score! Five Keys to Maximizing Your Profit in the Sale of Your Company,” YetiZen Accelerator (2014).
  • “Negotiating the Venture Capital Term Sheet,” OPEN Houston (2014).
  • “What You & Your Startup Need to Know about Bitcoins,” Founders Space (2014).
  • “California’s New LLC Act: What You Need to Know,” CLE Marathon (2014).
  • “Mobile Gaming: Mobile Privacy, Mobile Free-to-Play and Mobile Payments,” Gamer Technology Law Conference (2013).
  • “Negotiating in the Cloud: Key Issues in Enterprise Cloud Service Agreements,” Digital Law Forum (2012).
  • “ACC Deal or No Deal 3.0—Contracts Gone Wild!” San Francisco Bay Chapter (2012).
  • “Addressing Business and Legal Risks in Cloud Service Agreements,” Cloudcon Expo and Conference (2012).
  • “How to Become an Investor Magnet,” Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (2011).
  • “Cloud Computing: A Multidisciplinary View,” IEEE Gold Santa Clara Valley (2011).
  • “Raising Your First Round of Venture Capital,” Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (2011).
  • “Social Media and Gaming = Customer Acquisition and Retention,” Association of Corporate Growth, Silicon Valley (2010).
  • “Legal Process Outsourcing: Opportunities and Challenges,” Palo Alto Bar Association (2009).
  • “Legal Process Outsourcing: An Idea before Its Time or Just in Time,” International Law Technology Association Annual Conference (2009).
  • “What Entrepreneurs Need to Know about Intellectual Property and Corporate Law,” Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs (2008).