Developing Your Capital Strategy – Part 3

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 by David Castor
As stated in Part 2 of this series, a business’ capital strategy is both directed by the market strategy and leadership team required to carry out the strategy as well as directing to the market strategy and team.  A solid capital strategy is based on understanding where you are and where you need to go.

The first step in developing a capital strategy is to know your revenue projections.  If you had the money and team you need, what can you sell and when?  In developing a market strategy the...Read More »

Eric Davis Nationally Recognized in October's Issue of The ABA Journal

Friday, October 7, 2011 by Bree Meadows


Success StoryEric Davis

One of our very own, Eric Davis, is being nationally recognized for his success in the October issue of The ABA Journal. Eric has long  been a leader in entrepreneurial expertise and business law, and is a strong exterior source contributing to our firm, Alerding Castor Hewitt, LLP. The article discusses about how Eric jump-started his career and the many roads on which it has taken him.  In the article, Eric considers himself a "hybrid" because he does not necessarily fit in just one firm....

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Lawyered

Wednesday, May 25, 2011 by Meg Shireman
"A champion is someone who is ready when the gong rings - not just before, not just after - but when it rings."
-Jack Dempsey

GONG

Tooting your own horn, ringing your own bell...We've decided to bang our own gong.  

Welcome the newest fixture to the Alerding Castor Hewitt office, the official New Client/Wrapped Mediation Gong.

The litigation and transaction teams didn't have a celebration worthy of new business, so partner Michael Alerding came to me with the idea to buy a ship's bell to ring for each...Read More »

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 2011 - Attorneys for Tatas

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 by Meg Shireman
The Alerding Castor Hewitt faithful braved the chill and the rain of Saturday, April 16th to participate in the 2011 Susan  G. Komen Race for the Cure.   We're proud to announce that the team surpassed its goal of raising $1000 to assist the Komen Foundation's mission to end breast cancer forever and had a fantastic time walking in downtown Indianapolis.

We'd like to send a big 'Thanks!' to those who donated to the team's efforts and share a special 'Way to go!' with the team members, along with...Read More »

Profile in client success: Gauge Telematics

Monday, March 7, 2011 by Meg Shireman
It isn't often that business law firms have the opportunity to really celebrate the success of clients.  Typically, the day to day is more about filing regulations with the SEC, setting up corporations and the like with the IRS, and drafting contracts, agreements and subscriptions.

Always out to break the law firm mold, Alerding Castor Hewitt, along with KSM Consulting, had the privilege of hosting a launch party for our client, Gauge Telematics, last week to both honor their success to date and...Read More »

Congratulations to the partners

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 by Chris Stephen
I know there will be an "official" congratulatory press release in the near future, but I thought I'd take a moment to congratulate the Alerding Castor Hewitt partners on being included in the 2011 Indiana Super Lawyers. 

Brian Hewitt received the nod as one of the Top 50 Super Lawyers in the state.  This is, of course, a recurring honor for Brian, who has been a Super Lawyer for the past several years.  Brian's practice focus is on business and probate litigation and mediation.   

The voters...Read More »

Entreprenuers Must Understand Cash Flows

Thursday, February 17, 2011 by David Castor
I have said it a million times since learning the lesson myself in a failed entrepreneurial effort a couple of years ago, the CEO of any entrepreneurial venture must understand the importance of managing cash flows and how to use cash flow analysis for the strategic growth of the company.

Trust me, I am all into the Six Sigma approach of throwing a couple of innovators together, rolling out a v1 product as quickly as possible, and slowly scaling the company from hobby phase to a successful...Read More »

ALERDING CASTOR HEWITT LLP PARTNER TO TEACH HARRISON COLLEGE COURSE

Wednesday, January 19, 2011 by Lainey Scheetz

Indianapolis, IN – Mike Alerding, founding partner of Alerding Castor Hewitt LLP, is slated to teach Business Law at Harrison College this spring.  The course combines the understanding of legal theory with the acquaintance of the various forms of contracts.  Students will be taught the essentials of the legal environment of business, tort law, contracts, commercial transactions, government relations and property. 

“I am teaching because I enjoy the process of observing the improvement and...

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TECHNOLOGY LAW FIRM – THE SEASON OF CELEBRATION

Monday, December 20, 2010 by Scott Kreider

Your friendly neighborhood litigation attorney at Alerding Castor Hewitt, LLP with a final post for the year to all of our business, Indiana internet litigation, and technology law clients.  Saturday, December 25th will no doubt be a date of celebration in many homes.  As you spend time with your family, remember how special the day is and all of the changes that have taken place in the last 20 years.

Some of you might wonder what I mean exactly.  I’m not referring to Christmas.  And for those...

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Funding Law - Know Your IRR

Monday, November 22, 2010 by David Castor
It has been said a million times already on this blog – a CEO, especially one which is seeking funds from private equity investors, needs to understand finance.  Often a basic knowledge of sources and uses and cash flow analysis is enough, but in many early stage investment rounds, savvy investors expect the CEO to know the company's internal rate of return (IRR) - and why it matters. 

I meet many entrepreneurs who have served as VPs or middle managers before embarking on their entrepreneurial...Read More »

Techpoint's 2010 Innovation Summit

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 by Janet Monroe
techpoint summitAlerding Castor Hewitt, LLP is a business law firm that works with many technology start-ups in their formation stages and in assisting with the legal aspects of dealing with private equity investors.

The entrepreneurial spirit of our clients is inspiring, and I am looking forward to attending Techpoint's 2010 Innovation Summit that will be held in downtown Indianapolis today.

An annual event that Alerding Castor Hewitt is proud to sponsor, it will feature keynote speaker Nicholas Carr who is a...Read More »

US Private Equity - Top Ten Things to Look For In Angel Investors

Monday, October 25, 2010 by David Castor
The last couple of years have been strange.  With the change in the economy, many early stage companies are looking for anybody, and I mean anybody, to invest in their capital round.  As the economy rebounds (which we are seeing in technology markets) business owners are again able to be picky when considering angel investors. 

An angel investor (or an angel investor group or private equity firm) should be more than just a liquid wallet.  He/she should be a strategic member of your team.  They...Read More »

Funding Law – TechPoint Innovation Summit

Thursday, October 21, 2010 by David Castor
Next week I am moderating the plenary panel at TechPoint’s Innovation Summit entitled Funding Innovation

Check it out: TechPoint Innovation Summit
 
Also check out the sponsors page.  I counted today, and nine Alerding Castor Hewitt clients are sponsors of the Summit.  That is awesome. 

This year’s panel members represent private equity investors, angel investor groups, successful entrepreneurs and grant funding organizations which look for funding and investment opportunities in Indiana...Read More »

FIRM GEARS UP FOR MUCH ANTICIPATED INNOVATION SUMMIT

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 by Lainey Scheetz

FIRM GEARS UP FOR MUCH ANTICIPATED INNOVATION SUMMIT 

Alerding Castor Hewitt, LLP is no stranger to the technology community - here in Indianapolis and in other domestic and international markets.  The firm highlights its position in the Indianapolis market by a commitment to this year’s Innovation Summit as the Plenary Panel Sponsor for the second year in a row.  The Summit is taking place on October 27th in downtown Indianapolis. 

David Castor, Founder and Partner of the firm, will serve...

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Entrepreneurial Law - The "Must Haves" of a Good Business Model

Sunday, September 19, 2010 by David Castor
I guest lectured at Purdue’s Entrepreneurship Capstone course again last week.  I love it – for an hour I talked about my experience in entreprenuerial law, business law and funding law to Seniors in Purdue's entreprenuership concentration program on issues consider when structuring a new company.  Honestly, I thought I had them bored out of their minds (yes, there was that one Greek letter wearing frat guy who was asleep about 10 rows back), but I was impressed when we got to the Q&A time...Read More »

Alerding Castor Hewitt on Corporate Blogging for Dummies

Monday, August 30, 2010 by Janet Monroe
Alerding Castor Hewitt, LLPAlerding Castor Hewitt, LLP is a law firm that does a substantial amount of legal work with clients in SaaS law and as technology legal counsel.  So much so that we were asked to contribute to Corporate Blogging for Dummies, a best practices book that our friends Douglas Karr and Chantelle Flannery were approached to write.

As a law firm that utilizes blogging to reach our current and potential clients, the Alerding Castor Hewitt, LLP website was featured as an example within these pages.
...Read More »

Business Law - Hire Good, Smart People To Ask Good Questions

Sunday, August 29, 2010 by David Castor
I was reminded today of something told to me by a friend last year:

Good people who are smart ask good questions

Bad people who are smart ask bad questions

Good people who are not smart ask bad questions

 
In business we are always looking for answers – but what we really want are good answers.  Today the issue is never whether we have enough data (we arguably have too much), it is whether we can properly utilize that data to make better decisions.  I see this especially in my Internet Law /...
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Business Law - How To Kick Out Jerks

Thursday, August 26, 2010 by David Castor
I work with a national angel investor group that invites members (investors) to join on two general rules:

1.  You cannot be a jerk;
2.  You have to invest in companies.


The President of this organization has removed a couple of members this year because they received rule #1 complaints from other members. 

In my funding law practice I represent and/or work with several private equity firms, angel investor groups and private equity funds.  Most funds and angel investor groups run into this jerk...Read More »

Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises

Friday, August 20, 2010 by Janet Monroe
Indiana Technology LawyerSomething that women and/or minority business owners may want to consider is registration with the Indiana Department of Administration Minority and Women's Business Enterprises Division to become certified as a minority-owned or woman-owned business.

Established in order to give such businesses an equal opportunity to participate in the state purchasing process, the criteria considered for such certification include that the minority/woman member possess:
  • ownership of the business (at least...
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Funding Law - Is The Person Coachable?

Tuesday, August 17, 2010 by David Castor
I attended an angel investor group meeting today.  This was an interesting group - only 10 or so people, each of very high net worth, looking for large investment opportunities.  They remind me more of a private equity firm with the types of deals they are considering, but they invest individually - maintaining the typical angel investor dynamic.  

One investor is a recently retired C-level executive of a fortune 100 company.  He told me about his approach to investments - questions he works...Read More »