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Our Team

Our tech-focused advisors help founders and funders alike navigate legal complexities with a commercial-first mindset.

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David Hamala

David Hamala

I am a venture capital lawyer and work with startups, investors and other stakeholders in the German and international VC ecosystem on a daily basis. We support our clients from their formation through the various financing rounds (Angel, (Pre-)Seed, Series A, B, C etc.) to a successful exit, but also advise on employee participation/incentive programs, the leap into the United States (e.g., by flip or incorporation of subsidiaries) and generally act as a sparring partner for founders in the realization of their ideas.

Clients I've worked with: Haniel | Blossom Capital | Voltfang | Energy Impact Partners

Contact me Associate, Düsseldorf [email protected] +49 211 36787 344
  • What inspires you about working with tech companies?

    To be able to advise such successful technology companies, I have to constantly develop myself to keep up with the rapid advances in the various industries (climate, health, generally AI etc.) and to be a trusted advisor to our clients. I am constantly amazed by the incredible opportunities that technology can offer , which makes it all the more enjoyable to be a part of this progress.

  • Where do you find inspiration in life?

    I go with Lex Luther on this one: “Some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it's a simple adventure story. Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe.” For me, it's often the little things that inspire me the most, for example when I see how meticulously other people work in their respective professions.

  • What technology are you most excited to see develop?

    In general, I am really excited about developments in the field of AI - as I am privately friends with many founders in this field, it is always exciting to hear about the latest developments that sometimes go unnoticed by the public. Personally, however, I am even more excited about developments in the field of health tech (because they can improve the lives of many people in the short term) and climate tech (because without developments in this area we will face major problems in the medium to long term).

  • Tell us about a favorite book, work of art or piece of music?

    I really enjoy reading the books of Rolf Dobelli (The Art of Thinking Clearly, The Art of Acting Smart, The Art of the Good Live).

  • If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?

    Time travel (although I am familiar with the phenomenon of the butterfly effect).

    Kristy Hart

    Kristy Hart

    I represent early and growth stage companies as well as investors and venture capital funds on a wide range of corporate transactions throughout their life cycle. I am passionate about helping founders and investors at the forefront of technology drive innovation, and to support them by providing commercially focused advice at the crucial moment as well as every-day moments of their startup journey.

    Clients I've worked with: Butternut Box | Connexin | Vitruvian Partners | Sonantic | 9fin

    • What inspires you about working with tech companies?

      Working with some of the most driven founders who are relentlessly pushing the boundaries and shaping our future is incredibly inspiring and exciting. At the same time, playing a pivotal part in that journey and guiding a founding team through many of their key milestones (from incorporation, through hiring their first employees, closing their first round and beyond) is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

    • If you weren't a tech lawyer, what would you do?

      I would probably be a pilot. The closest I came to "piloting" an in-flight experience was running the first in-flight hackathon (a rapid and collaborative prototyping sprint), Hack Horizon, looking to revolutionise the TravelTech industry while at 40,000 feet above sea level and going at 564 miles per hour on a commercial flight from Hong Kong to London.

    • Tell us something we'd be surprised to know about you.

      I was a competitive figure skater in a past lifetime. As a longstanding heavy metal fan, my greatest memory was convincing my coach to let me skate my short program to my favourite heavy metal track (admittedly the acoustic version). These days I prefer to glide around on the back of a motorbike.

    • What's the best advice you've ever received?

      There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.

      Gregory Heibel

      Gregory Heibel

      I've spent my career working for and with startups of all stages beginning with my time selling solid state electric meters in the APAC region, and my role as an associate at a Swiss-based venture fund, before practicing law in the Silicon Valley. My representation of high growth companies and their investors leans on this experience to apply market context to sophisticated financing, acquisition and commercial transactions globally. I also work with some of the world's most important technology companies to help guide their early stage investment processes.

      Clients I've worked with: Go1 | Logikcull (acquired by Reveal) | Syllable | Microsoft | Workday

      Contact me Partner, Silicon Valley [email protected] +1 650 614 7394
      • What inspired you to become an emerging companies and venture capital lawyer?

        As the son of a serial entrepreneur, I early on learned the intense highs and lows of starting companies, and I always knew that I needed to be a part of energy. There is a special thrill and pride that comes from being an advisor to a company from their formation to their exit, living with and guiding the founders through the trials and tribulations that come from taking a raw startup to success. I never forget that a startup is deeply personal for its founders, and I'm honored to share that.

      • If you weren't a tech lawyer, what would you do?

        I would have gone to medical school and become an emergency medicine physician. There is something raw and important about being a physician who doesn't know what emergency will arrive at their doorstep next, but who also knows that they will be ready to take care of that emergency because they've prepared for years for each of those encounters.

      • Tell us something we'd be surprised to know about you.

        I have a pair of first class seats from a 757 in my office. It even still has the Airfone in the armrest (remember those?).

      • What technology are you most excited to see develop?

        I believe that the application of AI to healthcare will fundamentally change how humans live and thrive, and it will do so in ways that we can't yet imagine. I think the benefits will most prominently be seen in parts of the world where putting access to AI's clinical insights in the hands of caregivers to diagnose early and treat patients effectively without the need for expensive equipment like MRI's and CT's.

      • What is your ideal weekend?

        A long overnight flight with my wife to an exotic city for a fantastic dinner before waking up at a luxury hotel with a really great breakfast buffet.

      • What's the best advice you've ever received?

        Never threaten, just do.

        Dolph Hellman

        Dolph Hellman

        Having practiced transactional law for almost 35 years, I've developed 2 different areas of expertise in the tech and life sciences ecosystem - (i) venture debt and (ii) VC fund formation. In terms of venture debt, I've been assisting tech and life sciences companies at all different stages of growth with venture debt transactions since the late 1990's when venture debt first become available to start-up companies. Over the years, I worked on hundreds (if not thousands) of such financing transactions. In terms of VC fund formation, I've been assisting sponsors of VC funds - and in particular emerging managers - in connection with VC fund formation for over 15 years. I really enjoy working with founders and venture capitalists because it allows me to be more than just a technical lawyer. Instead, it allows me be also be a trusted advisor which is very rewarding. If you're looking for a trusted advisor to assist you with either venture debt or VC fund formation, then I'm your guy!

        Clients I've worked with: Facebook | Coinbase | Luminar | UpStart | Pathbreaker Ventures | Fifty Years | Mindset Ventures | K5

        Contact me Partner, San Francisco [email protected] +1 415 773 5678
        • What inspires you about working with tech companies?

          I really enjoy working with founders and emerging managers in the tech and life sciences space since I know that I am really adding value to their companies/VC funds. Often the advice and guidance I provide can mean the difference between success and failure, so I take on this responsibility very seriously. I also think it's cool to watch many of our clients evolve from being a team of just a few people to multi-national entities with thousands of employees.

        • If you weren't a tech lawyer, what would you do?

          Maybe a lawyer in the entertainment industry. In particular, I find the music industry (and in particular the area of music law) to be very fascinating.

        • What technology are you most excited to see develop?

          Autonomous vehicles. Once that technology is perfected it will be a real game changer in terms of mobility.

        • What's the best advice you've ever received?

          Don't put off to tomorrow what you can accomplish today. Procrastination is a terrible habit - particularly for a lawyer to have - so I try to stay on top of my work projects as much as is humanly possible.