The HLEP Podcast
by Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project
HLEP provides pro bono legal assistance to founders in the Harvard/MIT community. In support of our mission, this podcast aims to share timely insights from the world of emerging companies and venture capital. The HLEP Podcast is a production of the Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project, an officially recognized student organization of Harvard Law School. The views expressed on the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of Harvard University or Harvard Law School. Created by Ben Ho.
Episodes
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“Entrepreneurship in the Community: How BUILD Boston Makes Students CEO of Their Own Lives” with Anthony R. Craigwell, BUILD Boston
Join us for a conversation with Anthony Craigwell on innovation and entrepreneurship at the local level. BUILD Boston teaches students the skills they need to begin their entrepreneurial journey and open a pathway to opportunities. Anthony shares from his firsthand experience mentoring students…
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"Care Reimagined: What it Takes to Make a Difference in Healthcare” with Amber Nigam, founder and CEO of baysis.ai
Join us for a conversation with Amber Nigam on innovation in the healthcare industry. Amber led his first company to a successful exit. Now, he leads a team of innovators aiming to address inefficiencies in healthcare and improve patient outcomes. We discuss the underlying complexity of…
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“A World of Opportunities: ECVC in the Middle East and Beyond” with Eyad Latif, Deputy Office Managing Partner for Latham & Watkins Dubai
Join us for a conversation with Eyad Latif on the exciting developments in the ECVC ecosystem in the Middle East. Eyad generously shares from experience working in the Bay Area, New York, and Dubai serving both public and private companies in technology, life sciences, and other growth…
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Venturing into ECVC: A Leader’s Perspective with Matthew Bartus, global co-chair of Cooley’s emerging companies and venture capital practice groups
Join us for a conversation with Matthew Bartus on the exciting developments in the world of venture capital and emerging companies. Cooley is a leading global law firm known for its work with startups and venture capital firms. Matt draws from more than 25 years of experience in which he advised...
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“Gameplan Advantage: A New Sports Age” with Sabrina Perel, Chief Compliance Officer at the NFL
In this episode of our miniseries “Gameplan Advantage: A New Sport’s Age,” we dive into the complex world of sports law and integrity with Sabrina Perel, the Chief Compliance Officer at the NFL. Discover her fascinating journey from a psychology major to the forefront of legal compliance and…
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“The New Legal Landscape of Sports Betting” featuring Ashwin Krishnan, Chief Legal Officer at Betr.
Join us for a conversation on the exciting developments in the world of sports betting. Following a landmark 2018 Supreme Court ruling, betting platforms have rapidly expanded across the US, each offering users a unique experience. Ashwin Krishnan offers firsthand insight from the perspective of...
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“Gameplan Advantage: A New Sports Age” with Carolyn Renzin, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at FanDuel
Dive into the thrilling world of sports betting with our latest podcast episode featuring Carolyn Renzin, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Fanduel. Discover what it took to navigate the legal complexities of a company navigating new legal frontiers and gain insight into the fascinating legal...
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“AI Ventures: Navigating Legal Frontiers” with Rebecca Lynn, Co-Founder and General Partner of Canvas Ventures
Tune into our last episode of our AI Ventures miniseries where we are joined by Rebecca Lynn, Co-Founder and General Partner of Canvas Ventures, renowned for pioneering investments in AI applications within Fintech and Healthtech. Rebecca, a distinguished investor who has graced the prestigious...
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“AI Ventures: Navigating Legal Frontiers” with Pablo Arredondo, founder of Casetext, current VP & Co-Counsel at Thomson Reuters
Dive into the intersection of AI and law with our next episode in the miniseries, “AI Ventures: Navigating Legal Frontiers.” In this installment, we feature Pablo Arredondo, the founder of Casetext and currently the Vice President, CoCounsel at Thomson Reuters. Pablo shares his journey, beginning...
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“AI Ventures: Navigating Legal Frontiers” with Marty Gomez, Partner at Goodwin
In this episode, we're thrilled to have Martin Gomez, a partner in Goodwin’s Technology and Life Sciences Business Unit. Marty is at the forefront of intellectual property matters and specializes in supporting technology and life sciences companies through the intricacies of new company…
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“Fashion and Beauty: Breaking the Mold” with Giselle Rivers, Partner at Cooley
Join us for the final episode of our Fashion and Beauty miniseries, where we are joined by Giselle Rivers, Partner at Cooley. Giselle offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the support and guidance she offers to emerging companies in the beauty and fashion space. Discover how Giselle has forged...
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“Fashion and Beauty: Breaking the Mold” with Cori Aleardi, Founding Partner, Elevate Beauty
In this episode of our miniseries, we are joined by Cori Aleardi, the founding partner of Elevate Beauty, who brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the beauty industry. We delve into Cori's diverse career journey, exploring her initiatives in ventures backed by private equity and her...
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“Fashion and Beauty: Breaking the Mold” with Jeff Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of DIBS Beauty
On this episode of our miniseries, “Fashion and Beauty: Breaking the Mold”, Jeff Lee, the dynamic CEO and co-founder of DIBS Beauty, speaks to his unique blend of entrepreneurial vision and strategic prowess in the beauty industry. We delve into the intriguing pivots he’s made throughout his…
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“Passing the Mic: Goodbyes and Introductions” with Ben Ho, founder of the HLEP Podcast and former host.
On episode 26, the final episode of season 2, our new host, Grace Kim, sits down with the original host and founder of the podcast, Ben Ho. Starting as a Harvard Law student, Ben launched this project driven by his simple yet profound desire to shed light on legal practice areas and the trends...
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“Careers Only Make Sense Backwards” - Jonah Perlin, Georgetown Law Professor & How I Lawyer Podcast Host
On episode 25, we speak to Jonah Perlin, the Georgetown Law School professor & host of the “How I Lawyer” podcast. We learn about Jonah’s story, his experiences running his podcast, and the major lessons learned from interviewing over 130 lawyers. Whether or not you’re a law student, a junior...
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Bankruptcies & Reorganizations - Cullen Speckhart, Cooley LLP
On episode 24, we speak to Cullen Speckhart, the chair of Cooley’s business restructuring & reorganization practice and partner in charge of its Washington, DC, office. Cullen gives us an introduction to the bankruptcy and restructuring process, an overview of what some companies are facing in…
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Emerging Industries 101: Space Law - George John, Hogan Lovells LLP
On episode 23, we speak to George John, a senior associate at Hogan Lovells LLP, about practicing space law. George gives us an introduction to what practicing space law looks like, some of the major regulatory frameworks that players need to be aware of, and the policy concerns arising at the...
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Running a Venture-Backed Company in a Recession - Mike Lincoln, Vice Chair, Cooley LLP
On episode 22, we speak to Mike Lincoln, the vice chair of Cooley LLP. Mike discusses how venture-backed companies are navigating the present economic environment, how such companies are responding to its pressures across different stages of growth, and how this cycle compares to previous...
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Emerging Industries 101: Artificial Intelligence - Maneesha Mithal, Wilson Sonsini LLP
On episode 21, we speak to Maneesha Mithal, a partner at Wilson Sonsini LLP, about practicing in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) space. Maneesha introduces us to the policy concerns emerging in this space, its relevant regulatory frameworks, and the types of legal issues lawyers help clients...
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Dealmaking in a Recession - Morgan Beller, General Partner, NFX; Jordan Roberts, Partner, Fenwick & West
On episode 20, we kickoff our “Lawyering in a Recession” series with Morgan Beller, a General Partner at the venture capital firm, NFX, and Jordan Roberts, a partner at Fenwick & West. Morgan and Jordan discuss dealmaking in a recession from the venture investor’s point of view, how our current...
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Emerging Industries 101: EnergyTech - Yael Perl & Kristin Seeger, Orrick LLP
On episode 19, we kickoff our Introduction to Emerging Industries miniseries with Yael Perl & Kristin Seeger, partners at Orrick LLP, who introduce us to legal practice in the EnergyTech sector. Yael & Kristin discuss what issues clients in this emerging industry face and how lawyers help clients...
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Advising Mature Public Companies - Jason Kent, Cooley LLP
On episode 18, we speak to Jason Kent, the co-chair of Cooley’s Public Companies practice group. We pick up where we left off in season 1 and learn about public companies as they mature, years after the IPO event. Jason discusses what it’s like to advise such mature public companies, the types of...
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“Look for the frozen lemons” - Justin Osofsky, Chief Operating Officer, Instagram; Vice-President, Meta
On episode 17, we speak to Justin Osofsky, the Chief Operating Officer of Instagram and Vice President of Content Operations at Meta. We learn about Justin’s journey, from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School, to his management consulting days at McKinsey, to joining Facebook in 2008…
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"Be Direct" - Kristi Jobson, Assistant Dean & Chief Admissions Officer, Harvard Law School
On episode 16, we speak to Kristi Jobson, the assistant dean and chief admissions officer of Harvard Law School. We learn about Kristi’s journey from law school to her experiences clerking in both state and federal courts, her transition into Biglaw, and her pivot to leading admissions at HLS....
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“Follow Your Bliss” - Cece Xie, Content Creator, Author, Podcaster & Lecturer
On episode 15, we speak to Cece Xie, the content creator that many of you may be familiar with on Tiktok and youtube. We talk about Cece’s content, her recent book announcement, how she made her career pivot from biglaw to full-time content creator, and the experiences and motivations that…
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“Acing the Pitch” - Mike Ghaffary, General Partner, Canvas Ventures
On episode 14, we speak to Mike Ghaffary, a General Partner at Canvas Ventures. Mike was also the co-founder of the podcast app, Stitcher, a Vice President of Business and Corporate Development at Yelp, and the CEO of Eat 24, one of Yelp’s subsidiaries. We learn about venture capital investments,...
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“Believe in Your Own Excellence” - Yvan-Claude Pierre, Partner, Cooley
On episode 13, we speak to Yvan-Claude Pierre (“YCP”), a partner at Cooley. YCP is one of the faces of Cooley and a leader in its diversity, equity & inclusion efforts. We learn about the story behind the founding of Cooley’s Chicago office and how the firm makes such a big decision. We also...
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Matt Levine - Bloomberg Opinion Columnist & Author, “Money Stuff” Newsletter
On episode 12, we speak to Matt Levine, the Author of the widely read Bloomberg financial newsletter, “Money Stuff”. We talk about his journey from law school, to practicing law, his transition to banking, and eventually to writing. We also discuss Matt’s recent 40,000-word cover to cover essay,...
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Brian Potts - Partner, Perkins Coie & Founder, Legal Mentor Network
On episode 11, we speak to Brian Potts, a partner at Perkins Coie. Brian posted a picture of a rejection letter he received from Perkins Coie when he was a Summer Associate applying to jobs. Today, he’s a partner at the same firm. Brian is also widely known as the Legal Mentor on Linkedin. He is...
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Alex Su - @LegalTechbro & Head of Community Development, Ironclad
On episode 10, we speak Alex Su, the Head of Community Development at Ironclad. Many of you know Alex for his Linkedin posts and his TikTok videos under the handle, “@legaltechbro”. On this episode of Pivots & Personalities, Alex talks about his journey from BigLaw lawyer to legaltech, how and…
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After the IPO: Adjusting to Life as a Public Company – Milson Yu, Cooley LLP
On episode 9, we speak to Milson Yu, a partner at Cooley’s Palo Alto office, about the Public Companies practice area and the types of issues that companies need to adjust to after going public. Milson also shares about what it takes to make partner and discusses why diversity & representation...
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Public Exits: Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) – Jordan Roberts & Ran Ben-Tzur, Fenwick & West
On episode 8, we speak to Jordan Roberts & Ran Ben-Tzur, partners at Fenwick & West. We learn about public exits, what an Initial Public Offering timeline looks like, and the types of considerations that companies need to make in preparation to go public. Jordan & Ran also share about the capital...
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Private Exits: Mergers & Acquisitions - Kevin Cooper, Cooley LLP
On episode 7, we speak to Kevin Cooper, a partner at Cooley’s New York City Office, about the mergers & acquisitions practice area, what an acquisition & sale process looks like, and the types of issues that buyers and sellers need to consider in M&A deals. Follow and connect with us at our...
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Growing Pains: The In-House Perspective - Josh Beser, Wilson Sonsini LLP
On episode 6, we speak to Josh Beser, a partner at Wilson Sonsini’s New York office about the General Counsel’s role. We learn about the types of legal issues that general counsels help founders navigate and how the role compares with practicing at a law firm. Listen to hear Josh share…
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Growing Pains: Sepideh Mousakhani, Cooley LLP
On episode 5, we speak to Sepideh Mousakhani, a partner at Cooley’s Palo Alto office about the types of growing pains and challenges that founders tend to face as they build their startups from early into middle and late-stage companies. We also learn about how lawyers help their clients navigate...
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Representing Venture Capital - Robin Painter, Proskauer Rose LLP & Sarah Reed, RA Capital Management
On episode 4, we speak to Robin Painter, a partner of Proskauer Rose & Sarah Reed, general counsel of RA Capital Management, about what representing venture capital funds and their General Partners (GP) & Limited Partners (LP) is like. We also learn about the lawyers’ role in helping general and...
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Financing the Vision: Raising Capital - Becki Degraw, Wilson Sonsini LLP
On episode 3, we speak to Becki Degraw, a partner at Wilson Sonsini’s SOMA office, about raising capital at a startup’s pre-financing rounds, its later preferred equity financing rounds, devices for raising capital like SAFEs (Simple Agreements for Future Equity), and factors for considering who…
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Protecting the Idea: Intellectual Property - Christopher Higgins, Orrick LLP
On episode 2, we speak to Christopher Higgins, a partner at Orrick’s Washington D.C. office, about patents, Intellectual Property (IP), copyright, trade secrets, what types of IP considerations founders need to make as they set out to protect their ideas, and how IP lawyers help their clients...
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Birth of an Idea: Company Formation - Jeff Laretto, Cooley LLP
On episode 1, we speak to Jeff Laretto, a partner at Cooley’s New York City office, about the Emerging Companies & Venture Capital (ECVC) practice area, how it differs from other corporate practice areas like Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and Capital Markets, and what makes successful ECVC…
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Introducing The HLEP Podcast
A series on lawyering throughout the corporate life cycle and legal trends in emerging industries. Follow and connect with us at our LinkedIn and Instagram More on HLEP at clinics.law.harvard.edu/hlep
About this show
HLEP provides pro bono legal assistance to founders in the Harvard/MIT community. In support of our mission, this podcast aims to share timely insights from the world of emerging companies and venture capital. The HLEP Podcast is a production of the Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project, an officially recognized student organization of Harvard Law School. The views expressed on the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of Harvard University or Harvard Law School. Created by Ben Ho.
Hosted by
Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project
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