Steve Rothman helped me grow a company based on my university research. He provided excellent guidance to us throughout our growth and past the raising of venture capital financing. His insight into how university spin-outs work has been invaluable during the early stages of formation.  He has  always been very thoughtful and thorough in his advice.

Steven Low
Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
California Institute of Technology
Founder of FastSoft, Inc.

Steve played a key role in AquaNano’s financing efforts. He wrote the first draft of our business plan, introduced us to venture capital firms, and guided us through the process of presenting the company to them. He negotiated the license of our technology from Caltech. Drawing on his extensive experience representing startup companies, he has advised us on a variety of topics including compensation structure and IP strategy. He is not only a good attorney but has been a co-founder and key member of our management team.

William P. Rutledge
CEO of Caltech spinout AquaNano, LLC
Former CEO of Teledyne (NYSE listed, $3 billion revenue)
Director of Sempra Energy, First Federal Bank of California, Communications and Power Industries and AECOM Technology Corporation.
Trustee of Lafayette College, St. John’s Hospital and Health Center Foundation, John Wayne Cancer Institute and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

Steve Rothman provided excellent legal services to Gevo at the earliest stages of its formation. He guided us in setting up the company, negotiating a license with Caltech and raising venture capital financing. Steve helped us build the foundation of a great company that transitioned university research from an idea into a publicly traded company. His knowledge and experience set him apart from others providing legal services to university based start-up companies.

Frances H. Arnold
Dick and Barbara Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering and Biochemistry
California Institute of Technology
Co-Founder of Gevo, Inc.

I have worked with Steve Rothman for the last 20 years, spanning my positions as Controller at Allied Clinical Laboratories, Chief Financial Officer at CHD Meridian Healthcare and now founder and CEO of W Squared.

In that time, he has handled for my companies matters as large as $80 million and $180 million acquisitions, and various public and private securities offerings, and as small as corporate formation, non-disclosure agreements, contracts and general legal consultation of all kinds.

He is my “go to” lawyer (despite being based over 2,000 miles away), because I have complete confidence about what I will get from him: practical, useful and creative advice, based on sound judgment and business understanding; responsive and reliable service; unswerving dedication to my best interests; and a fair price.

Shannon W. Farrington
Founder / CEO
W Squared (2012 Inc. 5000 Company)