The following is an excerpt from Practice Perspectives: Vault's Guide to Legal Practice Areas.
Rosie Stein specializes in corporate partnering, strategic alliances, technology protection, and licensing and commercialization of intellectual property (IP) and technology assets, as well as transactional IP issues related to clients’ financing and M&A activities. She represents startup and emerging growth companies in numerous sectors, including software and SaaS, mobile and tablet applications, ad tech, media, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, e-commerce, and educational technology. Rosie is a Certified Information Privacy Professional, holding the U.S. private-sector privacy certification granted by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.
Describe your practice area and what it entails.
As a partner in the strategic transactions and licensing group, I work with both venture-backed, early-stage startup companies and the venture capital firms that invest in them. For both types of clients, I specialize in IP and technology protection through corporate partnering, strategic alliances, licensing, and commercialization of IP and technology assets, as well as transactional IP issues related to our clients’ financings and M&A transactions. We help company clients navigate industry-specific laws and regulations; negotiate key commercial arrangements with partners, customers, and vendors; and assist in exit opportunities. For our investor clients, we evaluate IP-related risks to investments with respect to IP assignment and licensing, privacy, usage of open-source software and AI tools, and other technology-related matters.
What types of clients do you represent?
I represent startup and emerging growth companies across tech, software, fintech, consumer, media, life sciences, e-commerce, edtech, and every form of products and services.
What types of cases/deals do you work on?
My core practice involves drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various commercial agreements (website and application terms and conditions and privacy policies; inbound and outbound license agreements for software, services, and consumer goods; support and maintenance agreements; partnership agreements; and other licensing deals and ser-vices arrangements). I also help clients through financing rounds and represent several leading venture capital firms in their portfolio M&A transactions and financings.
How did you choose this practice area?
I was pre-med in college and transitioned to law school at the last minute when I realized I was more interested in the social and ethical aspects of science but still loved technology. I originally thought patent litigation would be the best fit given my science background but quickly learned that it didn’t match my strengths. I wanted to be more on-the-ground with smaller, growing companies with innovative ideas and advise them with a business-minded legal approach. This practice lets me explore groundbreaking science and technology while partnering with visionary founders to help their companies grow. Luckily for me, with an amazing group of colleagues, Gunderson has an incredible, supportive network.
What is a “typical” day like and/or what are some common tasks you perform?
This question always makes me laugh: No two days have ever been the same here, so what is “typical”? But that’s my favorite part of this job. I am always on my toes and never bored. I can work for upward of 20 clients in a day on a range of issues, from SaaS licenses to marketing questions, cease and desist letters, employee and consultant IP assignment questions, IP diligence in a financing, and revision of IP representations in a merger.
What training, classes, experience, or skills development would you recommend to someone who wishes to enter your practice area?
I encourage students to take classes they are interested in regardless of their direct relevance to their career path. School is a unique opportunity to explore, so take what sounds fun! Law firms train associates in how to do the job, so no background experience is required. That said, reading about venture law or the news in venture, taking classes on corporate law and contract drafting, and talking to people who work in startups are great ways to get exposure to this field.
What do you like best about your practice area?
I never do the same thing twice. Even if the topics and companies are similar, every situation has nuances, and I love figuring out novel solutions for each new situation. I work with many different companies in different industries with differences in technology, stage, priorities, size, and goals. This makes my job rewarding and allows me to tailor advice to each client’s needs.
What are some typical tasks that a junior lawyer would perform in this practice area?
One of my favorite parts of Gunderson is the hands-on experience junior associates get right away. There is no hierarchy or year requirement to do certain types of transactions or agreements; if you show you’re ready for it, you got it! Junior associates have immediate client contact and communication, take responsibility for the first drafts of almost all documents, and lead calls with clients and opposing parties. The opportunities are limitless, and you get substantive experience starting day one; you learn so much so quickly.
How do you see this practice area evolving in the future?
This practice area is evolving daily. Our clients are always coming up with innovative technology, products, and services, so we’re constantly developing with them. Learning about our clients’ technology and how it works and integrates with other technologies and regulations is crucial to our jobs. As technology changes, inherently so do we, providing some phenomenal opportunities for attorneys to focus on real legal issues instead of pushing paper.
How is it different working with entrepreneurs in contrast to large corporate clients?
At Gunderson, we work with early-stage entrepreneurs who are excited about and invested in an idea. Depending on the size and stage of a company, we work directly with the founders, leadership, engineers, product sales coordinators, etc. We assist them in navigating and preparing for the venture-backed process. Working directly with key decision-makers of a company makes me feel valuable as an attorney. It’s rewarding to see a founder’s goal come to fruition, and you are an integral part of that milestone. It’s also exciting to see how companies evolve as they scale; sometimes ideas change and companies pivot, people change, and priorities and approaches change. A fulfilling part of our job is growing with our companies: As they scale and change, we customize our client service to their current needs.