Styna Tao focuses on intellectual property, technology and commercial transactions for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies in various industries, including financial services, media and entertainment, consumer products, education, and manufacturing. Her experience includes assisting clients in negotiating and drafting agreements related to the development and commercialization of new products and technologies, software licensing (including SaaS and related service-level and support arrangements), manufacturing and supply chain relationships, collaborations, and consulting engagements.
Additionally, Ms. Tao regularly represents philanthropists, tax-exempt entities and civic society organizations in connection with social impact and charitable activities. She also advises on the intellectual property and technology aspects of public and private mergers, acquisitions and dispositions involving IT services, software products and apps, AI technologies, energy management technologies, financial platforms, and other technologies.
Experience
- Leading consumer products company in its strategic trademark licensing arrangement for expansion into new household appliances market.
- Trade association in connection with intellectual property and commercial issues related to its advocacy and operational activities.
- Multiple tax-exempt organizations in connection with intellectual property and commercial issues arising from their initiatives, programs, collaborations, and other strategic relationships.
- Multiple consumer product companies and tax-exempt organizations regarding the structuring of official rules for sweepstakes and skills contests.
- Walker & Dunlop, in its acquisition of GeoPhy BV, a leading commercial real estate technology company, at an enterprise value of $290 million.
- Capital One in its acquisition of TripleTree, an investment banking advisory platform serving market-leading healthcare technology and services companies.
- Enzyvant in the sale to Aceragen of an investigational enzyme replacement therapy to treat Farber Disease, a group of inherited metabolic disorders for which no disease-specific therapy exists, for an upfront payment and development and sales-based milestones up to $226 million, as well as tiered royalties on net sales.
- CuriosityStream, the first streaming media company devoted to factual entertainment, on intellectual property aspects of its combination with Software Acquisition Group, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), at an equity valuation of $512 million.
Perspectives
Credentials
- JD, Yale Law School, 2019
- Bachelor of Commerce, Queen's University - Smith School of Business, 2016, with honors, Dean's List with Distinction, Beta Gamma Sigma
- District of Columbia