Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

Steve Soden has had a successful legal career as a solo practitioner, general counsel and corporate consultant. He was general counsel for NetManage, Inc., a Silicon Valley software company focused on Internet connectivity. He was also corporate counsel for AGE Logic, Inc., a software company located in San Diego.

Steve has extensive corporate experience as an engineer for various corporations as well as an inside corporate attorney, bring a unique perspective on the legal and corporate needs of emerging high-tech companies. Steve also has extensive experience in dealing with intellectual property matters for trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and technology licensing in the high-tech industry. He has held positions as acting general counsel for several start-up companies located throughout the State of California and continues to support these companies with various corporate and intellectual property matters.

Steve's practice focuses on all aspects of business law, including the formation and structure of start-up companies, corporate securities, stock agreements and employee stock plans, and financial transactions. He also assists clients in preparing software licensing and publishing agreements, and in preparing licensing agreements for commercializing technology. He has extensive experience in advising companies regarding deal strategy and structure, negotiation, inbound and outbound licensing, channel agreements, strategic alliances and marketing arrangements. He also advises clients regarding the protection of trademarks and copyrights registration; protection and enforcement worldwide.

Before becoming an attorney, he was an electrical engineer designing systems and a consultant with a software and engineering consulting firm in Washington D.C.

Recent Matters

• Assists start up companies in San Diego, Irvine, Los Angeles and the Silicon Valley in the formation of their corporation including filings, post incorporation formalities, employment contracts, stock purchase agreements and other various agreements required to obtain funding.
• Assists companies in the development of strategic technology licensing and effective channel strategies.
• Supports start up companies by acting as their interim corporate General Counsel until the need arises for full time corporate counsel.
• Developed several asset purchase agreements for various types of technology.
• Represented companies in research and development transactions, including collaboration agreements, development agreements, option transactions and licensing transactions.
• Provided strategic planning, development and negotiation of the following business transactions:
  • Marketing and merchandising agreements.
  • Agreements for product distribution, including purchase and sales, domestic and international OEM, distributor, representative and reseller agreements.
  • License agreements for software, copyrights, and trademarks.
  • Development agreements.
  • Outsource agreements.
  • System development and integration agreements.
  • Review and negotiate domestic and international lease agreements.
  • Employment and consulting agreements.
  • Confidentiality agreements.

General and Corporate Counsel for numerous companies.

Extensive corporate experience as an engineer for various corporations and as an attorney dealing with fundraising, helping companies go public, acquisitions, mergers, and intellectual property matters for trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and technology licensing in the biotech and high tech industry.

My primary focus is on all aspects of business law, including the formation and corporate engineering of start-up companies, securities, stock agreements, stock option plans, and financial transactions.

My strengths lie in my experience in advising companies regarding deal strategy and structure, negotiations, protection of assets, licensing, specialty agreements, strategic alliances and marketing.

Areas of Practice

• Business Law
• Formation and Structure of Start-Up Companies
• Corporate Securities
• Stock Agreements
• Employee Stock Plans
• Financial Transactions
• Securities Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• Licensing

West Practice Categories

Licensing, Lending & Secured Transactions, Business & Commercial Law, Business Organizations, Pensions, Benefits & Compensations -- Employee, Intellectual Property Law, Securities Law

Professional Associations and Memberships

• State Bar of California (Member)
• San Diego County Bar Association
• San Diego Bar, Intellectual Property Section (Past Co-Chairman)
• Software Industry Council
• International Angel Investors Institute (Member)

Past Employment Positions

• Booze Allen Hamilton and American Management Systems, Inc. (now CGIAMS) San Diego and Washington D.C., Business and Engineering Consultant
• National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (A General Dynamics Company), Electrical Engineer and Manager Business Development
• NetManage, Inc., General Counsel

Education

• Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, California, 1993
  J.D.

Offers Free Initial Consultation

Address

550 West C. Street
Suite 1710
San Diego, CA 92101-3568

Phones

(619) 239-3200 (Ext. 11)

Faxes

619-238-4581

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.legalmattersllp.com