You have a passion for what you do. We understand, because we do too. Like a Catalyst, we match your determination and courage with the kind of legal representation that will equip you to take your company to a buyer, to an investor, or to an untapped market, all in the name of entrepreneurial vision. At Pierce Atwood, we welcome clients with creative ideas and proprietary technologies that have high potential for success in the marketplace. We match our legal resources with the passion of our client entrepreneurs and provide the legal guidance necessary to transform start up companies into successful and profitable enterprises.

Through Catalyst, we work with technology and other startup companies that base their businesses on proprietary technology and creative ideas they have developed or acquired.

We work closely with these companies to protect their intellectual property assets, create strategic business partnerships, build manufacturing and distribution networks, develop effective marketing strategies, and even build strong management teams, all with the goal of launching them successfully into the New England regional economy.

Catalyst will consider applications from companies working in all industries. Applicants will be given consideration in relation to the following criteria:

• Satisfactory completion of the Application
• Strength of candidate's passion and commitment to the venture
• Strength of management team's qualifications to make the venture succeed
• Business Plan's ability to convince the readers of a true market opportunity, viable upside potential
• The venture's likelihood for business success (financial profitability and/or social impact) and the timing of that success (weighting of 2)

And other consideration given to:

• The venture's scale of success
• The venture's likelihood for sustainability

Gum Spirits Production

Gum Spirits Productions, based in Portland Maine, has been producing independent films since 2003.

Three Priests is its most ambitious undertaking to date. Gum Spirits’ previous full length feature, Sundowning, was micro budget feature, that has had tremendous success in the independent film circuit. It collected the “Emerging Mavericks” Director’s Award at the 2005 Cinequest Film Festival, the Special Jury Prize at the Independent Film Festival of Boston, was an official selection of the Newport Beach Film Festival,and won the 2004 Maine Screenwriting Award.

Based on the success of Sundowning, the Gum Spirits team has now moved on to a larger budget film with a cast of highly accomplished actors for its follow up, Three Priests. Three Priests has just been accepted to the March 2008 Cinequest Film Festival.

Pierce Atwood saw Gum Spirits through a private offering to raise the funding for Three Priests; set up the corporate structure, including with respect to investor interests, of Three Priests LLC ; acted as production counsel for Three Priests, and is working with Gum Spirits to secure and negotiate distribution for the film.

Three Priests Trailer
Sundowning Trailer

Ocean Renewable Power Company, LLC

Pierce Atwood serves as general counsel to this developer of tidal energy technology and projects. We have assisted our client on the broad range of legal issues typically encountered by a high technology early stage company, ranging from corporate and intellectual property issues to transactional advice on private equity financing. Congratulations to Ocean Renewable Power Company, LLC on its recent closing of convertible preferred equity bridge financing from California-based Quercus Trust.

Sports Rewards Systems

Pierce Atwood provided general counsel services to this innovative start-up company that created an affinity-based credit card points program for several major league baseball teams. We assisted this client with establishing licensing agreements with Major League Baseball and raising several million in venture capital.

Advanced Cell Technology

We have acted as outside counsel for this life sciences company. The company is a biotechnology company focused on applying stem cell technology in the field of regenerative medicine to bring effective, patient-specific therapies to the bedside.

We have assisted the company in all its intellectual property needs, accessing capital markets, including taking the company public and raising over $30 million.

For more information, please contact any of our catalyst attorneys.

Portland

Head of the Catalyst Team -

Elizabeth R. Butler | | 207·791·1226

Boston

Head of the Boston Office –

William (Will) L. Worden | | 857·277·6901, 207·791·1167

Portsmouth

Scott Pueschel, P.C. | | 603·373·2019