Biography
Emily counsels emerging and established companies on business formation, planning, restructuring and corporate governance matters, as well as mergers, acquisitions and various commercial transactions.
Startups often rely on her strategic advice regarding early-stage funding, while existing companies depend on her acumen with growth and acquisition financing.
Emily also advises venture and angel capital investors, as well as family offices, on due diligence, investment documents and other matters.
Emily serves as outside general counsel to a variety of businesses, providing keen and practical advice on day-to-day legal matters. Many of her clients are in the following industries:
- Software and Technology
- Finance and Family Offices
- Restaurants
- Veterinary
- Manufacturing
- Logistics
- Consumer products
- Consulting firms
- Talent management
- Solar equipment
Over the years, Emily has assisted with mergers and acquisitions in the automotive, hospitality, software, manufacturing and renewable energy sectors.
Emily also is a firm leader. The former Managing Partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office, she currently serves as a member of our Strategic Growth and Succession Planning Committees.
Representative Matters
- Represented a solar dish startup on corporate matters, including structuring and negotiating seed financing and distribution agreements.
- Counsel a social media app startup on various corporate matters, including negotiating shareholders agreements and employee stock grants.
- Counsel a social media game app company on various corporate matters, including structuring and negotiating seed financing and sponsorship agreements.
- Serve as outside general counsel to companies in a variety of industries such as:
- Restaurants
- Electronic parts manufacturing
- High end manufactured homes
- Cannabis
- Consulting and expert witness firm
- Talent management
- Advise a Los Angeles based family office on its portfolio company holdings.
- Represent various Southern California angel investors on their portfolio investments.
Before Fox Rothschild
Clients trust Emily in part because she understands firsthand what it means to run a business. Before launching her legal career, she co-founded a successful Montessori school and served as the executive director of a nonprofit, early childhood education center.
Emily also worked as an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, where she taught undergraduate English and completed Ph.D. level coursework in English.
During law school at USC School of Law, Emily was a research assistant for Dean Karen Lash, where she researched and analyzed the practical and legal implications of methods for providing legal services to low-income clients in California. She also served as an articles editor and staff member of the Southern California Law Review. After graduating law school, Emily worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable George H. King of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Beyond Fox Rothschild
Emily is the past President of the Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA). In 2011, she founded Women in LAVA, a strategic interest group focused on the specific needs of women entrepreneurs who are seeking seed or venture financing.
Additionally, Emily has served as an adjunct professor at University of Southern California Law School, teaching a course on contract drafting and negotiation. She also serves as a visiting undergraduate lecturer on venture capital financing.
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Education
- University of Southern California Gould School of Law (J.D., 1999)
- Kenyon College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1982)
Memberships
- Corporations Committee of the Business Law Section for the California Lawyers Association (CLA) (Co-Chair 2020-2021)
- California State Bar Association Business Law Section (Executive Committee 2013-2016; Secretary of Executive Committee 2014-present; Co-Chair, Corporations Committee 2011-2012)
- New Los Angeles Charter School (Former Board Member)
- Women in LAVA (Founder, Former Co-Chair)
Board of Directors
- Los Angeles Venture Association (Former President)
- Believe in Big Change (Former Board Member)
Firm Committees
- Strategic Growth Committee
- Succession Planning Committee
Honors & Awards
- Named to the Top 100 Lawyers list by the Los Angeles Business Journal (2022)
- Named a California Trailblazer by The Recorder (2019)
- Named among the Los Angeles Business Journal's "Most Influential Women Lawyers" (2019)
- Named among Women of Influence by L.A. Biz (2017)
- Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women Making a Difference Award Nominee (2015)
