Norm Law, the AI-native full-service law firm built for institutional and high-growth clients, announced the launch of its Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) practice with the addition of Sam Lipson and Justin Rattigan as Partners and Co-Heads of the group.

Lipson and Rattigan bring a combination of law firm, investor, operator, and in-house experience across the venture capital ecosystem. The pair previously worked together at Cooley LLP and most recently served as Partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and General Counsel of Bain Capital Ventures and Bain Capital Crypto, respectively. They also currently co-teach a seminar on emerging companies and venture capital as adjunct professors at Georgetown University Law Center.

As Co-Heads of the ECVC practice, Lipson and Rattigan will advise venture capital and growth equity firms, founders, and high-growth technology companies on financings, governance, strategic transactions, and fund-related matters.

Lipson focuses on advising venture fund managers, startups, and technology companies throughout their lifecycle, including fund formation, company launches, financings, acquisitions, strategic transactions, and exits. Prior to Pillsbury, he served as Managing Director and General Counsel of a family office investing in early-stage technology companies and emerging fund managers.

Rattigan advises venture capital and growth equity funds as well as portfolio companies across financings, strategic transactions, exits, and fund matters. Before joining Norm Law, he led legal strategy at Bain Capital Ventures and Bain Capital Crypto, overseeing venture financings, portfolio company exits, fund matters, and emerging technology initiatives. Earlier in his career, he founded and operated multiple technology companies and also practiced at Cooley LLP.

According to the company, Bain Capital Ventures is expected to continue working closely with Rattigan and Norm Law on investments and portfolio company matters. The firm said the launch of the ECVC practice aligns with its broader strategy of combining experienced legal professionals with AI-powered systems designed to support high-velocity legal workflows.

Norm Law said it continues to expand its capabilities across investment funds, private equity, real estate, and venture capital, while leveraging AI-native infrastructure to improve speed, consistency, and scalability for institutional and growth-stage clients.

The company also highlighted recent senior additions to the firm, including former Sidley Austin chairman Mike Schmidtberger, veteran private equity partner Bill Mone, and investment funds partner Jay Baris.

Norm Ai, which powers the firm’s AI capabilities, has raised more than $140 million from investors including Blackstone, Bain Capital, Vanguard, Citi, New York Life, TIAA, Coatue, Craft Ventures, Henry R. Kravis, and Marc Benioff.

KEY QUOTES:

“Founders and fund managers need counsel that can match their pace without sacrificing precision and sound judgment. What separates a great ECVC lawyer from an ordinary one has little to do with substantive knowledge. It’s the ability to anticipate how today’s term sheet negotiation echoes through tomorrow’s exit, to know which fights are worth having and which burn goodwill for nothing, and to be a genuine thought partner when a founder or fund manager is making a critical decision. An AI-native model reduces friction and ensures that my attention goes to the judgment that actually shapes outcomes.”

Sam Lipson, Partner And Co-Head Of The Emerging Companies And Venture Capital Practice, Norm Law

“The venture ecosystem has needed a more technology-native legal model for a long time. Justin has been an exceptional partner to BCV and built our legal function with rigor and judgment that will be hard to replicate. We’re proud to support this next chapter and excited to continue working closely with Justin, Sam and the broader Norm Law team on investments and portfolio company matters going forward. The model they are building is one that our founders and portfolio companies will benefit from directly.”

Matt Harris, Partner, Bain Capital Ventures

“The scarce resource in sophisticated legal work is no longer document production. It’s good judgment. AI accelerates drafting and diligence, but technology alone doesn’t transform a law firm. What matters is the infrastructure around it including the workflows, knowledge systems, and operating model that let lawyers move faster without losing context. Norm Law was built on the premise that legal judgment should compound across matters, not reset with every one. As mechanical work collapses from days into minutes, lawyers spend more time on what clients actually value: understanding risk, spotting second-order consequences, and helping businesses make better decisions under pressure.”

Justin Rattigan, Partner And Co-Head Of The Emerging Companies And Venture Capital Practice, Norm Law

“Norm Law handled a fast-paced, dynamic investment for us with a level of efficiency and responsiveness that would traditionally require more time and a higher cost. Their use of AI in transaction document review, analysis and drafting allowed a single attorney to operate with speed and precision while still delivering strong legal judgment.”

Stevi Petrelli, Head Of Blackstone Innovations Investments

“We recently engaged Norm Law on a live transaction. The speed and quality of the work demonstrated the benefits of Norm Ai’s legal AI in use at Norm Law. We are excited that Norm Law plans to build out a full-service law firm that can handle a diversity of investment strategies and fund types.”

Claire Jen, Deputy General Counsel, Coatue