Practice Areas

Acquisitions

We assist both sellers and buyers in acquisition transactions. We help structure, negotiate, conduct due diligence, document and close mergers, asset sales and stock transactions, including transactions with public companies.

Benefit Corporations

We can help you form a corporation, but why not a benefit corporation?  This relatively new legal form builds social and environmental benefit right into an entity’s corporate DNA.  Benefit corporations are generally governed by the same legal rules as other for-profit corporations, with additional legal commitments relating to purpose, accountability and transparency. We help your directors identify the corporation's public benefit purposes, report on its impact, and balance the financial interest of their shareholders with the best interests of other stakeholder groups. Certified B Corps are certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Blue Dot Advocates is the first law firm in Colorado to achieve certification as a B Corp, led by our own B Corp specialist, Seth Henry. We are happy to help guide your organization through the legal aspects of the B Corp certification process.

Business Immigration

• Multinational Manager / Executive Immigrant Petitions
• EB-1 Extraordinary Ability Immigrant Petitions
• EB-2 Immigrant Petitions with National Interest Waiver
• Religious Worker Immigrant Petitions
• Other Employment-Based Immigrant Petitions
• “B1 in Lieu of H1B” Visas
• E-1 / E-2 Treaty Traders and Investors
• E-3 for Certain Australian Professionals
• H-1B and TN Nonimmigrant Professionals
• I Representatives of Foreign Media
• J-1 Exchange Visitors & Waivers
• L-1 Intracompany Transferees
• O-1 Extraordinary Ability Petitions
• P-1 and P-3 Artists and Athletes
• R-1 Religious Workers
• Nonimmigrant Waiver Applications

Citizenship & Naturalization

• Applications for Naturalization
• Applications for Certificate of Citizenship
• Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes
• “Appeal” USCIS Decision to Deny Naturalization

Commercial Transactions

We help drive a wide variety of commercial and technology transactions, advising on both the specific terms and the structuring of successful partnerships. We develop form agreements, negotiate contracts and assist with breach of contract claims, both in the US and internationally, for both inbound agreements (development services, product acquisitions, manufacturing) and outbound.

Corporate Finance

We can help with the full spectrum of corporate finance transactions, including initial capitalizations, “friends and family” rounds, angel investments, venture capital transactions and debt financings. We advise on structure and terms, prepare the documents, and handle any required filings with the SEC and state securities agencies.  

Corporate Structuring

We help you determine the appropriate legal entity and domicile for your company, and handle the necessary filings with state, federal and international authorities. We draft the governing documents for the company, including founders’ equity and documentation for initial employees and contractors.

Corporate Structuring

We help you determine the appropriate legal entity and domicile for your family office, and handle the necessary filings with state, federal and international authorities. We draft the governing documents for the entity. For foundations, we assist with obtaining tax-exempt status and staying in compliance with exempt entity regulations.

Corporate Structuring and Tax-Exempt Status

We help you determine the appropriate legal entity and domicile for your organization, and handle the necessary filings with state, federal and international authorities. We draft the governing documents for the organization. We also assist non-profit organizations with obtaining tax-exempt status and staying in compliance with exempt entity regulations. We advise on program related investments, cause marketing campaigns, and assist commercial co-venturers with state registration and disclosure requirements.

Data Management and Privacy Compliance

We provide comprehensive support and advice in the area of data and privacy compliance. Our work covers compliance with US and international privacy laws in the fields of healthcare data, financial data and related customer information. We advise clients regarding internal policies, contract terms, and training and management of privacy violation reporting requirements.

Direct Investments

We help our family office clients execute on direct investment deals by assisting with sourcing, due diligence, structuring, negotiation and post-investment monitoring. For foundations, we can also assist with issues related to program related investments (PRIs) and exempt organization compliance.

Employment & Compensation

We represent companies and executives in employment related contract matters. We prepare and provide advice on the full range of employment related contracts, such as offer letters, employment agreements, inventions agreements, consulting agreements and separation agreements. We also develop equity incentive plans for the granting of stock options, restricted stock and other forms of equity compensation.

Executive Contracts

We represent organizations and executives in employment related contract matters. We prepare and provide advice on the full range of employment related contracts, such as offer letters, employment agreements, inventions agreements, consulting agreements and separation agreements.

Family-Based Immigration

• Immigrant Petitions for Qualifying Relatives
• Reinstatement of I-130 Approval After Death of Petitioner
• Petition to Qualify Orphan as Immediate Relative
• K-1, K-3 Visa Petitions for Fiancee/Spouse/Child of U.S. Citizen
• I-485 Applications for Permanent Resident Status
• Consular Processing of Immigrant Visa Applications
• I-751 Applications to Remove Condition
• Immigrant / Nonimmigrant Waiver Applications

Financing Transactions

Our work includes investment deal representation for funds all over the world. In the U.S. we handle all aspects of deal work, including legal due diligence, as well as structuring, review and negotiation of investment documentation. Outside of the U.S., we assist our fund clients by selecting and overseeing the work of local counsel. In our international work, we have assisted foreign funds with U.S. federal and state regulatory compliance related to sales of fund interests to U.S. investors as well as compliance with the U.S. Investment Advisers Act, Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, and Investment Company Act.   Due to our high level of activity in Sub-Saharan Africa, we have been involved in the formation of and represent funds domiciled in Mauritius.

Fund Formation

We assist clients with fund formation and US federal and state regulatory compliance. We work with you to set up the appropriate legal entity, handle the necessary organizational filings, and draft governing documents for the fund. We provide guidance and drafting assistance with investor disclosure documents, as well as draft and assist with the negotiation of limited partner investment agreements. In the context of our international work, we have represented foreign funds with US federal and state regulatory compliance related to sales of fund interests to US investors as well as compliance with the US Investment Advisers Act, Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, and Investment Company Act.   Due to our high level of activity in Sub-Saharan Africa, we have been involved in the formation of and represent funds domiciled in Mauritius.

General Immigration

• Work Authorization
• Advance Parole to Travel Abroad
• Application for Re-Entry Permit
• Permanent Residence for G-4 Nonimmigrants and Dependents
• Permanent Residence for Asylees and Refugees
• Applications to Replace Green Card
• Assist with Nonimmigrant Visa Applications at US Consulates
• Extension of Nonimmigrant Status
• Immigrant / Nonimmigrant Waiver Applications

Humanitarian Relief

• Political Asylum and Withholding of Removal
• Refugee / Asylee Relative Petitions
• Permanent Residence for Asylees and Refugees
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• I-360 Petitions by Undocumented Victims of Domestic Abuse (VAWA)

Hybrid Structures

We work with mission-driven enterprises, both for-profit and nonprofit. We help organizations choose the best legal structure to maximize accomplishment and protection of their mission, including paired for-profit and non-profit entities, or new forms such as a benefit corporation or L3C. We assist non-profits involved in hybrid structures to navigate governance issues, safeguard their tax-exempt status, and plan for income derived from business activities.

Immigration Court

• Immigration Court / Removal Proceedings
• Cancellation of Removal
• Political Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and CAT Relief
• Other Matters Before the U.S. Immigration Courts

IP Counseling

We provide counseling on the registration, management and enforcement of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. We work with your team to define what can and should be protected, and to implement appropriate strategies in the US and internationally. Our approach focuses not only on maximum protection, but also on getting maximum leverage from often limited budgets. Careful handling of contract terms helps protect your intellectual property from misappropriation. We structure, draft and negotiate license agreements and other intellectual property transactions on a daily basis. Finally, if someone does infringe upon your intellectual property, we assist in enforcing your rights.

IP Counseling

We provide counseling on the registration, management and enforcement of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. We work with your team to define what can and should be protected, and to implement appropriate strategies in the US and internationally. Our approach focuses not only on maximum protection, but also on getting maximum leverage from often limited budgets. Careful handling of contract terms helps protect your intellectual property from misappropriation. We structure, draft and negotiate license agreements, OEM and reseller agreements, and other intellectual property transactions on a daily basis. We have represented clients in transactions with some of the biggest names in technology. Finally, if someone does infringe upon your intellectual property, we assist in enforcing your rights.

IP Transactions

We handle intellectual property transactions on a daily basis. We structure, draft and negotiate license agreements, OEM and reseller agreements, various strategic agreements and non-disclosure agreements. We have represented clients in transactions with Fortune 500 companies and some of the biggest names in technology.

Social Enterprise

We represent both for-profit and non-profit enterprises with a core social mission. From corporate structuring and start-up financing to contract drafting and beyond, we understand the unique legal needs of social enterprises. Our experience includes designing ‘hybrid’ legal structures, and working with certified B Corporations and L3Cs. We assist non-profit organizations with obtaining tax-exempt status and staying in compliance with fundraising regulations. We advise on cause marketing campaigns and assist commercial co-venturers with state registration and disclosure requirements. Blue Dot has assisted Santa Clara University Impact Capital Director John Kohler with the development and automation of a term sheet for the Demand Dividend, a novel financing structure designed off of historical social enterprise financial data to allow social enterprises to grow while providing investors the promise of a return and exit. Create your own Demand Dividend term sheet here.  

Social Enterprise, B Corps and Hybrid Structures

We work with mission-driven enterprises, both for-profit and nonprofit. We help organizations choose the best legal structure to maximize accomplishment and protection of their mission, including paired for-profit and non-profit entities, or new forms such as a benefit corporation or L3C. We view our firm as a social venture. We were the first certified B Corp law firm in Colorado, and we spend much of our time thinking about how to facilitate the deployment of capital for positive impact. So, we understand social enterprises and their unique legal needs.