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Passionate About Your Success
Madama Griffitts O'Hara LLP is a boutique business law firm focusing on today's most innovative private and small public companies. Our clients represent a wide range of industries, but they share a need for legal counsel that understands the challenges and opportunities presented by today's rapidly evolving technology and business environment.
Our wide range of practices includes corporate law, venture finance, public and private offerings, securities law compliance, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, employment and litigation and dispute resolution.
In addition to providing sophisticated and cost-effective legal counsel, our attorneys remain current on technology developments and business trends, and are frequently asked to provide strategic business advice.
We are active in the community and frequently host business and arts events in New York City. We would enjoy seeing you at one of them.
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Practices
Our wide range of practices coincides with our clients’
diverse legal needs, who appreciate having a single, trusted
firm to handle issues as they arise. Drawing on these diverse
skills and disciplines allows our attorneys to approach challenges
creatively, and to deliver advice that is more informed, relevant
and thorough.
Attorneys
Our attorneys have worked at some of the most respected firms
and have extensive business experience in entertainment and new
technology. As a result, our attorneys deliver sophisticated advice
and have developed a unique appreciation for the needs and expectations
of business managers.
Please select an attorney for biographical information.
Clients
Our clients are private and small to medium public companies in a range of industries, including:
• performance-based advertising companies
• search engines
• security products and services companies
• print and web publishers
• online retailers
• lead generators and sellers
• film makers and distributors
• online and television production companies
• event producers
• performance venues
• record labels
• internet radio stations
• digital music distributors
• electronic payment processors
• online ticket vendors
• outdoor advertising companies
How We Work
We're not just lawyers who represent entrepreneurial clients. We’re entrepreneurs that started
a great law firm. And while we value our clients’ business, we value their success even more.
That spirit lies at the heart of our practice.
Passionate. We attribute our success to a passion for energizing today's innovators. Larger law firms, despite the advantages they provide in certain matters, are generally not the most responsive, efficient or cost-effective option for small businesses. Our practice is premised on providing this market with exceptional legal counsel and the highest possible level of service. Innovative. Often, the best answer is not the
obvious answer. We approach challenges creatively and analyze
legal issues in their broader business context. This allows us
to help find innovative solutions to difficult business decisions.
Responsive. We understand today’s fast-paced business
environment and believe that lawyers should empower their clients, not slow
them down. Like any good business partner, we complete work when promised and
return phone calls promptly.
Thorough. We take the time to learn about our clients’ businesses
so our advice is thorough and relevant.
Attorneys
Robert C. Griffitts
Robert
advises clients on a wide range of corporate matters, including business
formation, financings through private placements of equity and debt, partnership
and stockholders agreements, mergers & acquisitions, and a variety of strategic and
licensing arrangements. Robert’s entrepreneurial passion and the obvious need for a
law firm focused on small businesses led him in 2002, along with his partner Havona, to
start Madama Griffitts LLP.
Previously, Robert worked in the New York office of Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom where he represented both private and public companies
on a wide range of transactions, including those involving securities,
mergers and acquisitions and real estate matters. Subsequently he worked
at Palo Alto’s Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati representing
technology companies on matters ranging from private and public
equity transactions, to mergers and acquisitions, to licensing.
Robert is active in the arts community and devotes substantial
time representing artists and arts organizations on a pro bono
basis. He is the Treasurer of Action Arts League, Inc., a New
York-based not-for-profit dedicated to promoting the participatory
arts for children and adults. He also serves as Secretary of
Sympho, Inc., a not-for-profit whose mission is to redefine
the classical music concert experience. When he is not counseling
clients, Robert enjoys playing classical piano.
Robert is admitted to practice law in New York and California.
He studied International Marketing as an undergraduate and received
an M.B.A. in International Finance at The American University.
He received his J.D. (magna cum laude) at Catholic University.
Attorneys
Havona Madama
Havona advises clients in the entertainment and technology industries
on a variety of matters, including intellectual property and licensing.
Havona focuses on software, film, music and theatre clients, and she regularly
negotiates and advises on recording, publishing, production, employment, work-for-hire,
and licensing agreements. Additionally, Havona advises on trademark and copyright matters
and, in conjunction with co-counsel, oversees patent issues.
Havona is known for her pragmatic and inspiring advice, a product of her passion for
the creative aspects of the entertainment industry, her keen business sense and her litigation
experience. She is particularly passionate about helping clients balance creative sensibilities
with business realities.
Havona’s clients include production companies, filmmakers, musicians, artists, directors,
actors, technologists, and small business owners.
When she is not counseling clients, Havona is actively involved in efforts to
increase participation of underrepresented groups in media and filmmaking, including
development of the proposed Luke Scully Digital Film School, dedicated to the hands-on
technical training of tomorrow’s filmmakers.
A native of San Francisco, Havona received her B.A. in Political
Science from the University of New Mexico, and her J.D. (cum
laude) from District of Columbia Law School.
Attorneys
Mary Payton O'Hara
Mary has over 15 years' experience representing domestic and foreign companies in all aspects of corporate and securities law, including public and private debt and equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing, securities compliance and corporate governance. Her practice has a particular emphasis on capital raising and transactions for private companies and small to medium-sized public companies.
Mary's clients have included issuers and investors in public and private financings in a range of industries including biotechnology, chemical detection, agriculture, information technology, software, medical technology, transportation, security and consumer products. In addition to her extensive knowledge of corporate and securities law, Mary is committed to helping her clients find the best solutions to their business problems taking into account both practical and legal considerations.
Additionally, Mary's practice includes commercial transactions including distribution agreements, joint ventures, asset purchases and sales and employment and consulting agreements. Previously, Mary worked at Fulbright & Jaworski and Mayer Brown and, prior to joining our firm, was a partner at Hodgson Russ. Mary's commitment extends to her community where she volunteers part of her time with organizations such as Mercy Center in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx.
Mary received her B.A. (magna cum laude) in Economics from the University of New Mexico and her J.D. from New York University.
Practices
Corporate & Business Formation
Our attorneys regularly advise entrepreneurs on the formation of their businesses. We handle all aspects
associated with business formation, including determining the appropriate business structure, negotiating
and preparing formation documents, including stockholder and partnership agreements, as well as
employment-related documentation, including executive employment agreements and equity incentive plans.
We also prepare offering and subscription documents and help structure the initial financing. Following formation,
we generally serve as outsourced general counsel.
We also negotiate, document and implement a wide range of other business transactions, including business
development contracts, licensing, and joint venture agreements.
Practices
Venture Finance
We assist companies in raising the funds they need to grow and
prosper through private offerings of debt and equity. Our clients
include angel and venture capital-backed businesses in all phases of
the investment cycle, from early-stage seed investments to subsequent
multi-investor and mezzanine financings.
Work in this area includes helping clients develop optimal financing
strategies and structures, preparing offering and subscription documents,
negotiating terms with investors, and advising on compliance with federal
and state securities laws.
We also represent venture capital companies and angel investors purchasing
interests in private businesses, including negotiating investment terms and
helping determine overall potential for success.
Practices
Public and Private Offerings
Our attorneys have extensive experience with public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, including PIPEs, initial public offerings, alternative public offerings and Exchange Act registrations (Forms 10 and 10-SB) as well as exchange and market listings/quotations on the Amex, Nasdaq and OTC Bulletin Board. We offer advice and assist clients in their communications with the SEC and market officials in connection with their listings and pride ourselves on our ability to effectively and efficiently work with them.
Practices
Securities Law Compliance
We provide advice and guidance to public companies on their ongoing SEC reporting obligations, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and reports of beneficial owners on Forms 3, 4 and 5 and Schedules 13D and G and assist clients in the preparation of these reports. We help clients plan and conduct annual and special shareholder meetings and shareholder actions by written consent and prepare the required documentation and SEC filings. We guide our exchange-listed clients through listing obligations and ongoing maintenance of their listing status. Our knowledge of the regulations and listing requirements enables us to answer clients' questions on the finer points of compliance and to help them avoid pitfalls.
Practices
Mergers & Acquisitions
Our attorneys have represented clients in numerous mergers and
acquisitions in a range of industries, including financial services,
technology, media and real estate. Our attorneys have a unique understanding
of the challenges that business combinations present and the importance
of a successful combination, both legal
and strategic, on the well-being of an enterprise.
We advise and guide clients through every stage of a merger
or acquisition, from initial structuring and negotiation, to implementation.
We also work closely with clients to anticipate legal and strategic
developments and opportunities.
Practices
Intellectual Property & Licensing
We regularly advise clients in connection with software licensing,
co-development, marketing, distribution and other strategic intellectual
property arrangements. We also help clients protect intellectual property
by handling their copyright, trademark, and trade secrets issues.
Where necessary, we help protect their intellectual property from
infringement through a range of dispute resolution actions, including litigation.
Practices
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Our practice extends to every area of business litigation, including contract,
intellectual property, and employment disputes. We have also represented clients
in real estate disputes, a variety of tort matters, and actions by the government,
including workmen’s compensation. We combine legal skill and business savvy to develop
comprehensive litigation strategies with our clients that seek to maximize their position
and minimize their investment.
Our litigation practice extends to the state courts of New York,
California, Illinois, and New Jersey, and the U.S. District Courts
of New Jersey and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Practices
Employment
We regularly assist management teams and executives with the negotiation
and implementation of employment and independent contractor agreements,
as well as other compensation arrangements, including the design and implementation
of equity compensation plans.
We also litigate disputes related to employment and independent contractor relationships.
Practices
Business Consulting
Our attorneys remain current on technology developments, and
regularly advise on business matters, including the development
of business models, business plans, financial models, and organizational
structures.
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