Crowdfunding through Funding Portals: What You Need to Know

Markley S. Roderick concentrates his practice on the representation of entrepreneurs and their businesses. He represents companies across a wide range of industries, including technology, real estate, and healthcare. Expanding on his in-depth knowledge of capital raising and securities law, Mark is spearheading Flaster/Greenberg's Crowdfunding Practice. Mark has more than 25 years of experience representing individuals and businesses in a wide variety of transactions, including but not limited to raising money through private placements, venture capital and Crowdfunding; counseling entrepreneurs through the formation, development, and growth of their businesses; buying, selling, and investing in businesses; planning business transactions to minimize corporate and individual taxes, preparing Shareholders’ Agreements, Partnership Agreements, and Operating Agreements; resolving disputes among partners; and technology licensing and development.

He holds a Master's degree in mathematics and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and is a member of the Crowdfunding Professional Association and the National Crowdfunding Association. Mark maintains a Crowdfunding blog (www.crowdfundattny.com), which contains news, updates and links to important information pertaining to the JOBS Act and how Crowdfunding may affect your business. You can also follow Mark on Twitter @CrowdfundAttny.

Peter Schaeffer is a partner in the Corporate Department of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP. Peter's practice focus is in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture capital. His practice also includes ongoing representation of publicly traded corporations and privately held companies, including advice in regard to disclosure and compliance under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Peter also represents emerging growth companies on formation issues, equity and compensation matters, licensing and in their venture capital, debt financings and exits. Peter has represented several companies in their initial public offerings as well as in public secondary offerings, PIPES, joint ventures and in the establishment of credit facilities. He received his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Colgate University.

Phillip Guttilla takes a practical approach to legal issues, seeking to understand his clients' needs as a basis for providing useful advice on which to act. With this approach, Phil is often viewed as a trusted adviser. 

As a certified public accountant and chartered financial analyst, Phil brings a broad perspective to his clients' business operations and strategic plans. He serves as outside general counsel to many middle-market companies and has gained significant experience in the semi-conductor and high-technology industries. But he enjoys working with companies of all sizes, from startups to multinational corporations. 

Some of the other industries Phil covers are transportation, finance, ballistic products, software, consumer products, and restaurant sectors. His practice areas include M&A, securities offerings and capital formation, hedge fund and private equity fund formation, and advising corporate boards.

Richard Levin's practice focuses on the representation of early stage and publicly traded companies in the financial services industry, including broker-dealers, alternative trading systems (ATSs), hedge funds, and exchanges. He has served in senior legal, business and compliance positions in publicly traded and privately held financial services firms. Before joining Baker he served as the Global Head of Product Development for Compliance and Operations for Deutsche Bank. He has also played a leadership role in the launch of several joint ventures of leading investment banks, including serving as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary to the board of directors of EquiLend and BIDS Trading. Mr. Levin began his career on Wall Street by serving as the General Counsel of one of the original Electronic Communications Networks, and as Assistant General Counsel and Regulatory Affairs Officer for Knight Capital Group, the leading Nasdaq market maker.

Mr. Levin is a member of the Entrepreneurship Initiative Advisory Board of the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship of the University of Colorado and is a frequent speaker on various securities and regulatory matters, including the JOBS Act.