Steve D. Ryan

Steve Ryan, global leader of Pillsbury’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice, advises companies on venture capital, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate governance matters with a strong emphasis on representing private high-growth companies and venture capital investment firms.

Steve focuses his work with venture-backed companies and founders to practically solve complex issues, develop strategies to navigate risks while achieving business objectives, and efficiently execute to drive results. He routinely serves as outside general counsel to clients, assisting them with board governance, evaluating and executing financing alternatives, securing and protecting intellectual property, stakeholder management and accessing specialized legal resources.

Steve is a practical and business-minded advisor to his clients. His client-first approach to providing legal services includes being accessible, providing clear and effective communication, leveraging technology and competitive pricing.

Representative Experience

Represented DirectAthletics in its acquisition by FloSports, a deal honored as the 2024 USA Deal of the Year (Small Markets) by USA M&A Atlas Awards.
Represented Savano Capital Partners in the $83 million Series B financing for Shift5.
Represented Kaseware Inc. in its investment from The Riverside Company.

Representative VC Financings Experience
- Represented Remi Labs in its $21 million Series A financing.
- Represented Pivot Investment Partners in co-leading the $21 million Series B financing for Traydstream.
- Represented Pivot Investment Partners in the $20 million Series B financing and CAD $17 million Series A financing for OneVest.
- Represented GenLogs in its $14.6 million Series A financing and $3.5 million Series Seed financing.
- Represented Concentric Educational Solutions in its $5 million Series A growth funding.
- Represented Lavrock Ventures in the $5 million Series Seed financing for Fabri.
- Represented Schematic in its $4.8 million Series Seed financing.

Representative Mergers & Acquisitions Experience
- Represented Verfico Technology in its acquisition by Odin.
- Represented Enspira in its acquisition by HUDDL3 Group.
- Represented Forza Telecom in its acquisition by AFL.
- Represented Zavda Technologies in its acquisition by Applied Insight.
- Represented Makeswift in its sale to BigCommerce.
- Represented Clowder in its sale to Advanced Solution International (ASI).
- Represented ETHIX 360 in its acquisition by StarCompliance.
- Represented Interware Development Company in its acquisition by Avenu Insights & Analytics, a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital.
- Represented HyperQube in the sale of its assets to ThreatLocker.

Professional Highlights

Prior to joining Pillsbury, Steve was a partner at a Washington, DC, office and co-leader of the Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice at an international law firm.
Designated as a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®)
Member of the CFA Society of Washington, DC

Speaking Engagements
- “Workforce Development” Maryland Data Center Summit (August 29, 2024).
- "NVTC Starting Point Session II: Preparing for Growth” Northern Virginia Technology Council (September 20, 2023).
- “First Annual Venture Capital Outlook: The Times Are A-Changing!?” CFA Society (October 19, 2022).

Education

J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2013

B.S., Finance, Virginia Tech, 2006
summa cum laude

Admissions

District of Columbia

Virginia

Areas of Focus

Practices

Representative Experience

Professional Highlights

Steve's Insights