October 2014

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 7, 2014 —Reflecting high demand for hands-on legal help for startup entrepreneurs, Santa Clara University School of Law’s year-old Entrepreneurs’ Law Clinic has recently expanded in capacity, serving twice as many entrepreneurs and providing hands-on experience to 50 percent more law students.

The clinic, one of the few of its kind in Northern California, serves startups by having attorney-supervised students provide free advice on issues ranging from regulatory compliance, corporate structure, commercial transactions, and early stage financings.  The changes bring to 12 the number of students who can work in the clinic each semester.

As part of the expansion, two new attorneys with years of experience advising startups -- Santa Clara Law alumnus Tom Lavelle, J.D. '76, and Barbara Krause --are serving as adjunct faculty to oversee additional students and legal projects. 

“The clinic is becoming a hub of entrepreneurial knowledge and excitement for the law school, the University, and the broader community,” said Laura Norris, clinic director and assistant clinical professor. “I am excited that additional students will get hands-on experience, and that we have two such unparalleled attorneys coming on board to help.”

Lavelle has a private solo practice, representing small start-up companies in the technology area, functioning as “outside general counsel.”  He was formerly senior vice president and general counsel at Rambus, as well as VP and general counsel at Xilinx.

Krause has represented entrepreneurs, investors and lending institutions for more than 10 years through AMLAW 100 law firms, as in-house counsel and as a solo practitioner. She also contributes to the University’s Center for Science, Technology, and Society as an executive fellow and mentor to social entrepreneurs attending the Center’s GSBI® Accelerator program. 

Media Contact
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Relations | dlohse@scu.edu | 408-554-5121