From Big Ideas to Disruptive Technologies
Turning a novel idea into a successful business—especially one that disrupts established industries and global markets—isn’t easy.
But it’s what we help clients do—every day.
With little more than a promising idea and the passion of their founders, our clients turn to us to help them grow into successful, mature companies. No two clients are alike, and no two clients have the same needs.
If you join our emerging companies practice, prepare to wear a lot of hats: coach, cheerleader, advisor, matchmaker, outside general counsel—and a lot more. You’re not in maintenance mode working with an assistant deep in a company hierarchy; you’re in the boardroom partnering with the CEO to change an entire industry.
We represent more VC-backed start-ups and scale-ups than any other U.S. law firm, and we consistently rank No. 1 for the number of venture capital deals handled each year. In fact, our team has helped more than 100,000 private companies on their journey from idea to incorporation, scale up, and maturity or, in many cases, an exit.
That should give you an idea of the scale and scope of our work. But what do we do every day?
Being part of our emerging companies practice means you manage the relationship and manage client needs, handling matters directly or, where appropriate, bringing in attorneys from across the firm to assist with specific issues.
These relationships often start with corporate work, such as advising on company formation, equity structures, financings, IP rights, and other issues. As clients grow, we often provide regulatory and litigation work, market expansion, IP litigation, dispute resolution, and a sale of the business or public offering, among others.
Our emerging companies team is always looking for new talent and team members who want to roll up their sleeves and be part of this exciting and challenging area of legal practice.
Meet Our Emerging Companies Team
Join Our Emerging Companies Team
Are you looking for a unique, fully remote position at a big law firm where you’ll lead sophisticated financing transactions and interact directly with some of the most well-known investors in venture capital? Do you have 8 or more years of ECVC experience, with a strong focus on investor-side work? If so, join Wilson Sonsini’s ECVC practice representing the investors who support emerging growth businesses.
This non-partnership track senior counsel position does not require travel or building your own book of business. Instead, you will focus on fostering these investor relations and providing exceptional client service. Ideally, you will be an excellent lawyer who enjoys training associates. As part of this investor-side “SWAT team,” you will manage and oversee the execution of venture investments, often standing in as the partner-level resource on a deal, with a team of associates assisting your efforts.
Join Wilson Sonsini’ s ECVC practice in San Francisco focusing on emerging companies and the investors who support them! You will lead transactions and interact directly with founders, CEOs, management teams and boards of directors at our company-side clients as well as interact directly with investment partners and general counsel at our investor-side clients. Candidates with a demonstrated interest in these growth industries who have 4-6 years of ECVC experience and want to split their time 50/50 between company-side and investor-side work would make a great addition to our team.
Clients in this practice group represent a diverse range of industries, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, autonomous vehicles, aviation, big data, cleantech and climate solutions, data storage, digital health and wellness, digital media and entertainment, electronic gaming, fintech, life sciences, robotics, semiconductors, software and SaaS, and web3, among other emerging and disruptive technologies.
If you would like to submit an application to Wilson Sonsini, but do not see an active posting for the office or practice you are interested in, please apply here.
Did you know?
Year after year, Wilson Sonsini ranks among the most diverse law firms in the United States. For us, diversity is not just a commitment—it is integrated throughout our business, from recruiting to promotion.