Book excerpt: Written for corporate officers and attorneys, this handbook details every critical step of the entire IPO process with information specifically tailored to Internet and new media companies and their legal advisors. Beginning with the basic step of deciding if an IPO is right for a particular company and progressing through each subsequent stage, this manual explains such critical issues as pre-IPO financing, choosing an underwriter, conducting due diligence, filing a registration statement, complying with securities laws, and getting a company's shares listed on an exchange. In addition to this IPO launch information, many of the forms needed for each stage of going public are provided.