An-Yen E. Hu

Hu guides clients through the entire corporate life cycle, including pre-incorporation planning, general corporate representation and counseling, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, corporate governance, Securities and Exchange Commission compliance and public company representation.

“I studied politics and economics,” the Goodwin Procter partner said, “but I found myself drawn to the law from a young age. I’m fascinated by my business life cycle practice for issuers and investors.” Hu’s clients include Zendesk Inc., a customer service software company; Reputation.com, which monitors, manages and improves clients’ online characterizations; Leerink Partners LLC, a health care investment bank; and multinational investment bankers Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

In April Hu advised Atlassian Corp. PLC, a maker of productivity software, on its $1 billion cash exchangeable note offering. Earlier, in 2015, he aided the company in its $462 million initial public offering.

“When I first joined Goodwin Procter in 2011, Atlassian was one of my first clients,” he said. “I’ve been proud to work with them through their IPO, and I continue to represent them on an ongoing basis.”

He was the lead partner on Reputation.com’s acquisition of Strategic Internet Marketing Partners Inc. in February. He said the deal created the first and only platform covering the spectrum of consumer experience for location-based enterprises on the web by integration: business listings, directories and location finders, review management, customer surveys, operational analytics, social media management, mobile customer engagement and an array of digital advertising services.

In March 2017 Hu represented underwriters Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan in Snap Inc.’s $3.9 billion IPO. “That’s Snapchat’s parent, of course,” he said. “The size of that deal, the prominence of the transaction and the successful outcome were key to building my reputation in the community.”

Hu was the lead partner on the team that advised longtime firm client Zendesk in its convertible senior note offering valued at $575 million. He advised Avere Systems Inc., a cloud computer and on-premises data storage and management infrastructure producer, in its sale to Microsoft Corp. early this year for an undisclosed amount.

“I represent my clients on a day-to-day basis,” Hu said. “There are general corporate matters, employee issues, stock questions and board of directors relations. I’m in a supporting role to the general counsel, drawing on my firm’s depth of experience. I do leave the litigation to the GC.”

Hu said the corporate life cycle nature of his work keeps his job a pleasure. “I get to work with founders,” he added. “I can assist with my knowledge and experience.” Successful IPOs are highlights. “We all feel a great deal of pride and satisfaction from them.”

— John Roemer