Working from his vantage point, Bruce Feuchter has a clear view of the market forces reigning Southern California’s life sciences ecosystem. Bruce is a highly sought-after advisor and counselor who guides start-up medical device companies at their earliest rounds of private equity funding through to their successful exits. Whether he’s representing an emerging company bringing their concepts to market or a public company with market capitalizations in the billions, clients measure Bruce’s value in the ideal mix of legal skill, market savvy and investor insight he brings to each of their major milestones.
In his 40 years of experience, Bruce knows that in the fast-paced world of startups, entrepreneurs and executives often lack the resources and advice they need to see the full picture. Bruce brings knowledge and certainty to complex decisions and solutions to issues that are often difficult for his clients to define. His vast experience affords him long-standing relationships with investors which he leverages to connect his clients with potential buyers and new sources of capital.
Boards of directors call on Bruce for counsel in the investment and acquisition decisions that shape the future of their companies. They rely on his ability to interpret the actions and demands of large potential buyers. Bruce knows what works, and by analyzing recent market activity, he sets expectations for fair and realistic offers. He communicates effectively with parties on both sides of a transaction and readily steps in to solve problems to ensure deals close quickly and efficiently.
Some other highlights of Bruce’s career include:
When negotiations for the sale of TrueVision, a digital ophthalmology surgical microscope company, met an impasse with the buyer, Bruce stepped in to convince the buyer that eliminating a Chinese distributor/joint venture was acceptable and to interpret and resolve a difficult problem with shareholders in Germany that the existing tax and M&A attorney team was unable to articulate. Bruce was able to close the deal in favor of all parties.
When Terumo sought to acquire Sequent Medical, an interventional neuroradiology product developer, Bruce sourced the right outside counsel for Sequent’s executives to execute their employment agreements and non-competes in a timely fashion. Bruce and his team met all milestones in the transaction and achieved a favorable outcome for all shareholders.
When a private equity firm sought to acquire partial ownership of on online vacation rental company, RedAwning, Bruce helped the founder eliminate federal tax on his $10 million gain by achieving a full application of tax code Section 1202.
Bruce has helped Vertos Medical, Inc. recently raise more than $27.5 million and over $125 million to date for the design, development, manufacture and marketing of a product for minimally invasive spinal decompression procedures. Though the company operates commercially, it lost Medicare coverage reimbursement eligibility which it needed to regain. After several difficult financing rounds, Bruce helped the company structure this recent inside round to complete all but the participation right offered to the other holders of preferred stock. He also calmed the company’s board of directors and key investors amid concerns of board liability.
True to his ability to guide clients from start-up to exit, Bruce represented IntraLase, the creator of the femtosecond laser - which made all-laser LASIK possible - from Series A-G financing through to its $100 million initial public offering and its subsequent $808 million sale to Advanced Medical Optics just four years later.
Bruce was involved in LenSx Lasers’ two series of venture financings totaling almost $32 million, and in its up to $744 million with $345 million paid up front sale to Alcon Laboratories.
Since its inception, Bruce has represented Tandem Diabetes, a medical device company focused on insulin-dependent diabetes, throughout its lifecycle including five venture financings and a $138 million initial public offering. Following a depressed stock price, Bruce led the company through several follow-on public financings and a significant public offering that boosted market confidence and grew its current market capitalization to $3.6 billion.
Bruce represented WaveTec Systems, a company that developed technology to measure a patient’s eye during cataract surgeries, in completing seven venture financings ranging from $5 to $20 million each, and in the subsequent sale of the company to Alcon Laboratories for $305 million.
Speaking Engagements
- "Healthcare Reform & the Impact on Device, Drugs & Biotech", OCTANe's Medical Technology Innovation Forum (October 2018)
- OCTANe's Life Science Startup Series (October 2017)
- "Mega Consolidation in Life Sciences: Trend or Cycle", OCTANe’s Medical Device & Investor Form (October 2014)
- “Board of Directors” and “Key Employee Transitions”, OCTANe’s CEO Mini-Bootcamp (September 2014)
- Orange County Summit on Semiconductors and Information Technology, OCTANe (February 2014)
In his 40 years of experience, Bruce knows that in the fast-paced world of startups, entrepreneurs and executives often lack the resources and advice they need to see the full picture. Bruce brings knowledge and certainty to complex decisions and solutions to issues that are often difficult for his clients to define. His vast experience affords him long-standing relationships with investors which he leverages to connect his clients with potential buyers and new sources of capital.
Boards of directors call on Bruce for counsel in the investment and acquisition decisions that shape the future of their companies. They rely on his ability to interpret the actions and demands of large potential buyers. Bruce knows what works, and by analyzing recent market activity, he sets expectations for fair and realistic offers. He communicates effectively with parties on both sides of a transaction and readily steps in to solve problems to ensure deals close quickly and efficiently.
Some other highlights of Bruce’s career include:
When negotiations for the sale of TrueVision, a digital ophthalmology surgical microscope company, met an impasse with the buyer, Bruce stepped in to convince the buyer that eliminating a Chinese distributor/joint venture was acceptable and to interpret and resolve a difficult problem with shareholders in Germany that the existing tax and M&A attorney team was unable to articulate. Bruce was able to close the deal in favor of all parties.
When Terumo sought to acquire Sequent Medical, an interventional neuroradiology product developer, Bruce sourced the right outside counsel for Sequent’s executives to execute their employment agreements and non-competes in a timely fashion. Bruce and his team met all milestones in the transaction and achieved a favorable outcome for all shareholders.
When a private equity firm sought to acquire partial ownership of on online vacation rental company, RedAwning, Bruce helped the founder eliminate federal tax on his $10 million gain by achieving a full application of tax code Section 1202.
Bruce has helped Vertos Medical, Inc. recently raise more than $27.5 million and over $125 million to date for the design, development, manufacture and marketing of a product for minimally invasive spinal decompression procedures. Though the company operates commercially, it lost Medicare coverage reimbursement eligibility which it needed to regain. After several difficult financing rounds, Bruce helped the company structure this recent inside round to complete all but the participation right offered to the other holders of preferred stock. He also calmed the company’s board of directors and key investors amid concerns of board liability.
True to his ability to guide clients from start-up to exit, Bruce represented IntraLase, the creator of the femtosecond laser - which made all-laser LASIK possible - from Series A-G financing through to its $100 million initial public offering and its subsequent $808 million sale to Advanced Medical Optics just four years later.
Bruce was involved in LenSx Lasers’ two series of venture financings totaling almost $32 million, and in its up to $744 million with $345 million paid up front sale to Alcon Laboratories.
Since its inception, Bruce has represented Tandem Diabetes, a medical device company focused on insulin-dependent diabetes, throughout its lifecycle including five venture financings and a $138 million initial public offering. Following a depressed stock price, Bruce led the company through several follow-on public financings and a significant public offering that boosted market confidence and grew its current market capitalization to $3.6 billion.
Bruce represented WaveTec Systems, a company that developed technology to measure a patient’s eye during cataract surgeries, in completing seven venture financings ranging from $5 to $20 million each, and in the subsequent sale of the company to Alcon Laboratories for $305 million.
Speaking Engagements
- "Healthcare Reform & the Impact on Device, Drugs & Biotech", OCTANe's Medical Technology Innovation Forum (October 2018)
- OCTANe's Life Science Startup Series (October 2017)
- "Mega Consolidation in Life Sciences: Trend or Cycle", OCTANe’s Medical Device & Investor Form (October 2014)
- “Board of Directors” and “Key Employee Transitions”, OCTANe’s CEO Mini-Bootcamp (September 2014)
- Orange County Summit on Semiconductors and Information Technology, OCTANe (February 2014)
