Peter N. Flocos

Peter N. Flocos
  • Lecturer, Wharton School
  • Adjunct Professor of Law, Penn Law School

Contact Information

Research Interests: Research interests include corporate and M&A law, corporate governance, securities law, general commercial and business law, economics and finance, and the Federal Reserve and Federal Reserve Act.

Links: Penn Law School Faculty Page (Peter Flocos), LinkedIn Page (Peter Flocos)

Overview

Peter N. Flocos received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and also received his B.A. and B.S. degrees from Penn (the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton School, respectively). In the interim, he obtained a master’s degree from the University of Oxford in modern history and political philosophy.

While at Penn Law School, Mr. Flocos served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, graduated Order of the Coif (top 10% of the class) and was awarded the John M. Olin Prize in Law and Economics. He subsequently was a Law Clerk to the Honorable Roger J. Miner, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in New York.

For many years, until May 2020, Mr. Flocos was a litigation partner in the New York City office of the global law firm of K&L Gates LLP. His practice consisted of large and complex business and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on M&A, corporate governance and other shareholder litigation, both direct and derivative; federal securities litigation; and representing corporate or director or officer policyholders in insurance coverage litigation. Mr. Flocos also served as an arbitrator in certain US and London arbitrations.

Prior to joining K&L Gates, Mr. Flocos was an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.

As of June 2020, Mr. Flocos became the Managing Director for Policy and Regulation at the Center for Financial Stability (CFS) in New York City. CFS is a nonprofit think tank focused on financial markets for the benefit of investors, government officials, and the public. CFS delivers top-notch, multi-disciplinary research, and sponsors related speaking events. The objectives of CFS are accomplished primarily through the work of its numerous experts, with input from the members of CFS’s Advisory Board, which is comprised of leaders in the fields of economics, finance and law. CFS’s experts specialize in a number of areas, including monetary and financial measurements, cyber security strategy, political economy, financial institutions, international finance and global markets, financial history, technology and laws and regulations pertinent to financial markets and the financial system.

Mr. Flocos currently is both a Lecturer at the Wharton School, and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Penn Law School, where he has taught M&A and M&A litigation courses since 2011. He was a Lecturer at Wharton from 2007 to 2010. In addition to his other endeavors, Mr. Flocos is currently doing post-baccalaureate work at Penn, and at Columbia University in New York City, in mathematics and economics, and has continued to practice law as a sole practitioner in certain cases.

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Research

Research interests include corporate and M&A law, corporate governance, securities law, general commercial and business law, economics and finance, and the Federal Reserve and Federal Reserve Act.

Teaching

LGST8130 – LEG ASP ENTREPRENRSHP

Legal and Transactional Aspects of Entrepreneurship is a practical and intensive course that examines the critical legal and transactional issues confronting start-up and emerging growth companies. Although the context of the course is early stage companies, many of the concepts studied are equally applicable to more mature, established companies. The course provides perspective on how to use the law strategically to manage risk, deploy resources and maximize shareholder value. Topics include the enforceability of confidentiality, non-competition and other restrictive covenants in employment agreements; choice of business form including the legal, financial and tax advantages and disadvantages of general partnerships, limited partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies; tax and securities law; legal aspects of raising capital including structuring venture capital and private equity financing; entrepreneurial acquisition structures, employment law, and intellectual property law including trade secrets, copyrights, patents, and trademarks.

Current Courses

  • LGST2130 - Legal Aspect Of Entrepreneurship

    This practically oriented course examines the critical legal issues confronting start-ups with a focus on innovation and disruption. Cutting edge topics include blockchain, fintech, AI, digital and mobile based issues. Students will learn to use the law to manage risk, deploy resources and maximize value. The course covers the entire lifecycle of a business, including confidentiality, non-competition and invention assignment clauses, intellectual property (IP) including patent, trade secrets, copyrights and trademarks, tax advantages of limited liability companies (LLC) vs. corporations or partnerships, securities law strategy for raising angel financing, convertible debt and venture capital (covering SAFEs and KISSes), independent contractor vs. employee concerns, discrimination laws, merger and acquisition exit plans, as well as restructuring and bankruptcy. Students will emerge from the course with the skills and tools to draft term sheets and contracts, negotiate deals tailored to their business models, as well as mitigate liability via risk-protective policies, insurance and management of litigation.

    LGST2130001 ( Syllabus )

Past Courses

  • LAW9510 - Law Seminar

    See Course Finder.

  • LAW9990 - Independent Study Project

    Independent Study Project

  • LGST2130 - Legal Aspects Entrepreneurship

    This practically oriented course examines the critical legal issues confronting start-ups with a focus on innovation and disruption. Cutting edge topics include blockchain, fintech, AI, digital and mobile based issues. Students will learn to use the law to manage risk, deploy resources and maximize value. The course covers the entire lifecycle of a business, including confidentiality, non-competition and invention assignment clauses, intellectual property (IP) including patent, trade secrets, copyrights and trademarks, tax advantages of limited liability companies (LLC) vs. corporations or partnerships, securities law strategy for raising angel financing, convertible debt and venture capital (covering SAFEs and KISSes), independent contractor vs. employee concerns, discrimination laws, merger and acquisition exit plans, as well as restructuring and bankruptcy. Students will emerge from the course with the skills and tools to draft term sheets and contracts, negotiate deals tailored to their business models, as well as mitigate liability via risk-protective policies, insurance and management of litigation.

  • LGST8130 - Leg Asp Entreprenrshp

    Legal and Transactional Aspects of Entrepreneurship is a practical and intensive course that examines the critical legal and transactional issues confronting start-up and emerging growth companies. Although the context of the course is early stage companies, many of the concepts studied are equally applicable to more mature, established companies. The course provides perspective on how to use the law strategically to manage risk, deploy resources and maximize shareholder value. Topics include the enforceability of confidentiality, non-competition and other restrictive covenants in employment agreements; choice of business form including the legal, financial and tax advantages and disadvantages of general partnerships, limited partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies; tax and securities law; legal aspects of raising capital including structuring venture capital and private equity financing; entrepreneurial acquisition structures, employment law, and intellectual property law including trade secrets, copyrights, patents, and trademarks. Format: Lecture and discussion with coverage of legal cases and materials. Requirements: Class participation, midterm and final exam. Materials: Course pack.

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