Artificial intelligence is now the center of gravity for venture financing, M&A, and IPOs in Silicon Valley. Louis Lehot sits in the vortex, representing AI-first companies from formation through exit and beyond.
Louis Lehot works closely with founders, boards, and investors navigating the legal challenges of building an AI company — from early-stage venture financing and IP protection to governance, regulatory compliance, and eventual acquisition or public offering.
As a practice based in Silicon Valley, this team represents AI-first companies at every stage from formation through exit. Artificial intelligence has become the center of gravity for venture financing, M&A, and IPOs, and Louis Lehot sits at the heart of that shift with more than 25 years of experience as a corporate lawyer.
Working closely with founders, boards, and investors, Louis Lehot navigates the unique legal challenges of building an AI company. This includes early-stage financing and IP protection, governance and regulatory compliance, and eventual acquisition or public offering. Additionally, his clients range from emerging AI startups to established venture funds investing exclusively in artificial intelligence, including funds tracked by organizations such as the National Venture Capital Association.
Building an AI company today involves considerations that didn’t exist a decade ago. For instance, structuring intellectual property ownership around trained models and data requires careful legal planning, as does navigating an evolving regulatory landscape. Meanwhile, explaining novel technology to investors and acquirers with confidence is equally important. Because of this complexity, Louis Lehot helps translate technical and legal challenges into clear strategy — whether advising a seed-stage founder or a growth-stage company preparing for a public offering.
On the investor side, Louis Lehot works with venture capital funds focused on artificial intelligence, supporting them through fund formation, portfolio company financings, and exit transactions. As a result, this Louis Lehot AI lawyer brings a grounded understanding of how AI deals actually get done, from the first term sheet through exit. Ultimately, the approach combines deep technical understanding of how AI companies build and scale with practical, deal-tested legal strategy — helping clients move quickly without losing sight of long-term risk.
Multiple VC rounds; sale of legaltech business to Aderant.
Louis represents numerous AI-first venture capital investors in fund matters, financings, and portfolio-company transactions.
Company-side and investor-side counsel from seed through late stage.
Sell-side and buy-side counsel, including carve-outs.
Representing venture investors from term sheets to exits.
Preparing AI companies for the public markets.
Advising boards on AI oversight, risk, and disclosure.
Coordinating on U.S. federal and California AI regulation.
Louis Lehot is on a very short list of corporate lawyers called upon by entrepreneurs and investors alike to help build Web3-based businesses. Louis is at the forefront of developments in the decentralized economy (with applications that are financial and beyond) and has been widely published on SEC regulation, decentralized autonomous organizations, digital asset treasury strategies, tokenization of real-world assets, stablecoin regulation, and the post-2024 U.S. regulatory environment for blockchain-based technologies.
These cutting-edge landscapes are fraught with legal and regulatory uncertainty. Clients intending to operate in these spaces need nimble counsel with relationships across the ecosystem — from investors, to entrepreneurs, to regulators.
Louis and his team at Foley & Lardner offer the following services as they work with exchanges, regulatory bodies, investors, and innovators:
Providing advice on the correct regulatory classification and treatment of proposed products and services.
Developing and implementing regulatory strategies to resolve issues of uncertainty as they arise, including interaction with the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, and other regulators.
Assisting clients in bringing products to market, such as blockchain-enabled trading platforms.
Counseling on laws and regulations applicable to the blockchain sector beyond securities and commodities laws, including taxation, banking, payment systems, anti-money laundering (AML), and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements.
Advising on appropriate corporate structures, both domestic and international, to maximize present value while avoiding future pitfalls.
Cion Digital — An Austin-based blockchain orchestration platform advised in its formation and subsequent $12 million seed funding round, with participation from Green Visor Capital, 645 Ventures, Cota Capital, Epic Ventures, Hourglass Capital, BAT Ventures, Greycroft, and others.
Legacy Labs — A Netherlands-based crypto-gaming NFT platform advised in its formation and subsequent $7 million seed funding round, with participation from BitKraft Ventures, Delphi Digital, Global Founders Capital, Ubisoft, and others.
Blockstream — A global leader in Bitcoin and blockchain infrastructure.
Uptiq AI — An AI platform for financial services, operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and digital finance.
Louis Lehot advises AI-first companies from formation through growth and exit. His work includes venture financing, intellectual property protection, corporate governance, regulatory matters, M&A, and preparation for a potential public offering.
Yes. Louis Lehot advises both companies and investors on AI venture financings, from early seed rounds through later-stage transactions. He helps clients navigate deal terms, investment structures, and the legal issues that arise as an AI company raises capital and grows.
AI companies need to think carefully about ownership and protection of their technology, trained models, data, and other intellectual property. Louis Lehot helps founders and companies address these issues as they build their businesses and prepare for investment, partnerships, or an eventual exit.
Yes. Louis Lehot provides both buy-side and sell-side counsel for AI M&A and exit transactions, including transactions involving carve-outs. His experience helps AI companies and acquirers address the legal, corporate, and transactional issues that can arise during an acquisition.
Louis Lehot advises AI companies and their boards on governance, risk, disclosure, and regulatory considerations. His AI practice includes coordinating on U.S. federal and California AI regulations as the legal landscape continues to develop.
Yes. Louis Lehot represents venture investors focused on artificial intelligence in fund matters, portfolio company financings, and exit transactions. His work can support investors from the initial term sheet through later-stage investments and exits.
Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter
Attorney advertising – prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Opinions expressed here are my own and not those of my law firm.
Please read and acknowledge the following before using this AI Assistant:
• This AI Assistant provides information for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, medical, or other professional advice.
• Responses are generated by artificial intelligence and may be incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated. Important information should be independently verified.
• Use of this AI Assistant does not create an attorney-client relationship with Louis Lehot or any affiliated law firm.
• Do not submit confidential, sensitive, or privileged information through this chat.
• Decisions should not be based solely on AI-generated responses. Please consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
• This website and AI Assistant may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions.
• Past performance is not a guarantee of future outcomes. AI-generated responses are not a guarantee of future outcomes or accuracy.
• By selecting “I Agree”, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted this disclaimer.
