How Changes in the Administration Could Impact on Venture Capital

An experienced and versatile corporate attorney, Jon guides entrepreneurs, technology start-ups and emerging companies from formation through liquidity event. While Jon serves as general outside counsel to his clients and addresses their on-going legal needs, his practice is largely transaction-based as he advises clients through angel and venture capital financings, and a range of commercial transactions, including commercial licenses, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions. Jon also represents a number of angel and venture capital investors. His strong interest in innovation — he is the holder of two patents himself — and his passion for entrepreneurship shows through in the energy and enthusiasm he brings to bear for the benefit of his clients.

Jon has taken on a number of leadership positions in the legal and venture communities. He is a past chair of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge and was a longstanding member of its Executive Committee. Jon is active in the American Bar Association, where he is immediate past chair of the Private Equity and Venture Capital Committee, which saw significant growth during his tenure. He remains an active member of the PEVC Committee’s leadership team serving as the program’s chair where he is responsible for continuing legal education programming. Jon is also a member of the National Venture Capital Association's General Counsel Advisory Board and its Model Documents Standing Committee. In this capacity, he is part of a select team of lawyers from across the country responsible for maintaining and updating this important practitioners’ resource which reflects changes in law and in practice. Additionally, Jon is an active Brown University alumnus and is currently serving a five year term as president of his class. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Brown Club of Boston. Jon is also a prolific author of many articles related to start-ups, emerging companies and early stage finance.

Charlotte Savercool serves as Senior Director of Government Affairs at the National Venture Capital Association, where she works on various policy initiatives that impact NVCA members and manages the NVCA Political Action Committee. In addition, Charlotte leads the CFO Task Force, a peer group comprised of member firm’s CFOs and senior finance professionals.

Prior to joining NVCA in November 2016, Charlotte spent six years on Capitol Hill as staff for the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. Her most recent role was Professional Staff Member, advising Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Greg Walden (R-OR) on communications and technology policy. Charlotte also served as a Legislative Clerk and Legislative Coordinator, where she was responsible for a number of official committee business matters. Charlotte graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Jeff Farrah serves as General Counsel at NVCA, where he advocates before Congress, the White House, and agencies for pro-entrepreneurship policies and leads in-house legal matters for the association, including management of the NVCA Model Legal Documents. He loves working at the intersection of venture, public policy, and the law. Jeff concurrently serves as Treasurer of VenturePAC, the political action committee of NVCA.

Prior to joining NVCA, Jeff was Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation where he advised Chairman John Thune (now Senate Majority Whip) and members of the committee on technology, telecommunications, and Internet policy. His committee perch gave him an invaluable perspective on how policymakers think about technology and its impact on American life. Previously, Jeff served as General Counsel to U.S. Senator Scott Brown, serving as Brown’s top legal and policy advisor on a variety of issues. During the 2012 presidential election, Jeff was a member of Governor Romney’s Trade Policy Advisory Committee. Prior to the Senate, Jeff was an attorney at a leading Washington, DC law firm for international trade matters. His trade law experience includes World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement and trade remedies cases before U.S. agencies.

A native of southern California, Jeff earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara (Go Gauchos!) and his Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law. Jeff was a Visiting Student at Georgetown University Law Center.