Helping the next big startup become a reality is just another day in the Gunderson offices.
Gunderson Lateral Profile 2024
Gunderson isn’t your run-of-the-mill Californian firm. Sure, it’s BigLaw and like many West Coast firms, it has a significant tech practice. But what really sets Gunderson apart from its peers is the way it’s managed to conquer the emerging companies and venture capital space not just locally, but nationally since its foundation almost 30 years ago. In California, the firm receives high praise from Chambers USA for its venture capital and corporate/M&A work while nationally, it’s known for being the best of the best in startups & emerging companies. It’s an impressive feat to say the least, and it’s not one taken lightly by its associates: “Gunderson is a market leader, and we’ve been a market leader for a long time. The brand recognition, the space we work in, and having contact with the best clients – that was all really stellar.” Another junior agreed that “it’s cool to be the best at what we do. I’m being trained by the best people in the industry.”
View the firm’s Chambers USA rankings
Read the firm’s Inside View feature on junior associate life
Why did you join your firm? Associates say…
“The firm is relatively anti-hierarchy and truly does empower pretty much any attorney to have a say.”
“For the most part, everyone is very down to earth and doesn't take themselves too seriously. It's a refreshing place to do a hard job.”
“Being treated like an adult and not being micro-managed stood out as benefits when I joined.”
Strategic Recruitment Focuses 2024
Emerging & late-stage companies (corporate) careers
The view from the firm: Gunderson’s corporate lawyers focus exclusively on the emerging technology and life sciences market, guiding entrepreneurs through early stage issues, helping them to scale their companies, accelerating their businesses, and preparing for an M&A or capital markets exit.
We’ve handled thousands of U.S. and international M&A transactions worth tens of billions of dollars for clients across a wide range of technology and life sciences industries. The firm’s lawyers represent technology and life science companies of all sizes in the US, India, China, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and other markets globally.
Emerging & late-stage companies clients: Cirkul; Bowery; Flexport; Daily Harvest; Kavak; Overtime; Webflow.
Recent work highlight: Represented client Tia, a modern medical clinic for women, in its new investment from Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda French Gate’s company.
Strategic transactions and licensing (technology) careers
The view from the firm: The firm’s technology team works on strategic transactions to leverage unmatched business knowledge and sophisticated insights to develop, acquire and monetize technologies, even creating new business models to bring products to market. Having negotiated every type of deal and counseled clients in every industry, Gunderson tech attorneys have worked across AI, cybersecurity, consumer products, health tech, medical devices, biotech and life sciences, financial technology, media, ad tech, software and SaaS, as well as disruptive technologies, including blockchain, crypto and web3. We see around corners for our clients and can help plan for future outcomes, including buy-side and sell-side transactions or an eventual IPO.
Recent work highlight: Represented Replicate Bioscience in its collaboration with Precision NanoSystems to deliver up to 15 new srRNAs.
Venture capital & growth equity (corporate & fund) careers
The view from the firm: Gunderson routinely negotiates close to one-third of every venture capital dollar raised worldwide. We serve as general counsel to more than 500 venture capital and growth equity firms, representing many of today’s most prominent venture capital firms since their inception; facilitating their ascent to household names and their exploration of new investment strategies, emerging economies and international expansion.
Additionally, Gunderson negotiates more than 1,000 venture and growth financings every year. We assist the world’s preeminent venture and growth-stage technology investors to develop financing structures and strategies that are inventive yet practical. We have extensive expertise in structuring and negotiating cross border investments at all stages and are intimately familiar with the tax, regulatory and comparative law aspects of these transactions.
Venture capital & growth equity clients: Cowboy Ventures; Greenoaks; NextView U.S. Venture Partners; Volition Capital.
Recent work highlight: Represented Thrive Capital in the $6.5 billion Series I financing of Stripe.
Tax careers
The view from the firm: From formation to financing to exit, the firm’s tax lawyers advise founders, executives and investors on tax matters at each stage of the business growth cycle. Gunderson’s tax team provides guidance on structuring transactions and ongoing counsel for tax planning and compliance issues. The firm recognizes that tax advantages and business purposes often conflict, and the tax team is adept at figuring out how to achieve the right balance to serve its clients.
The Gunderson tax lawyers communicate tax issues, however complex or arcane, clearly, to tech-focused founders, seasoned financial advisers, an experienced CFO, Wall Street legal peer or Big Four partner. We advise clients on financings, restructurings, spin-offs, and exits, with an emphasis on IPOs and taxable and tax-free M&A.
Recent work highlight: Represented Power, a modern credit card management platform, in its pending acquisition by Marqeta, a global card issuing platform.
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
7 |
1.8 : 1 |
71% |
||
|
partners made in 2023 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
71% |
54% |
82% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with children | felt partnership was achievable at the firm | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
The view from the firm: Gunderson has a demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment in which all members can excel and thrive. We seek to enrich our firm by recruiting, retaining, and promoting attorneys with a broad set of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Our attorney and business professional-led affinity groups promote community building and collaboration. They work with allied affinity groups to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion across the firm. Members forge pathways for mentorship, advocacy, and recognition of achievements. Additionally, the affinity groups sponsor social gatherings, trainings, workshops, and other initiatives aimed at fostering professional growth firmwide.
Hours & Compensation
|
1,950 |
14.9 |
42.9 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
79% |
57% |
75% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
said the benefits package makes the workload worthwhile |
found the bonus allocation fair and transparent |
Salaries
1st year: $225,000
2nd year: $235,000
3rd year: $260,000
4th year: $310,000
5th year: $365,000
6th year: $390,000
7th year: $420,000
8th year: $435,000
The view from the firm: Associate compensation is lockstep and is determined by class year.
The firm’s billable target for bonus eligibility is announced by firm management on an annual basis. As noted elsewhere, bonuses are discretionary and are based on qualitative performance assessments, as well as hours billed, including pro bono and board meeting time and up to 100 investment hours, business development, and other contributions to firm citizenship.
The firm offers pro bono opportunities but there is no minimum pro bono hours requirement.
Reduced hours arrangements are supported by the firm, as outlined by the firm's part-time work policy. Attorneys with reduced hours arrangements may be eligible for annual true-up should they exceed the billable hours target for a calendar year and are eligible for a discretionary annual bonus.
Is Gunderson the right firm for you?
|
89% |
95% |
82% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work is interesting |
felt comfortable being themselves at work |
The view from the firm: Successful candidates are self-starters, team-oriented, collaborative, and enthusiastic about working with clients in the startup and venture capital ecosystem. We also seek to enrich our firm by recruiting, retaining and promoting lawyers from diverse backgrounds, and with wide-ranging experiences. We believe that a workforce comprised of individuals with a broad set of backgrounds, experiences and beliefs is essential to advising our clients effectively and providing fresh and innovative solutions.
Overall, we seek attorneys who are passionate about the EC/VC ecosystem and can work collaboratively to provide impactful and substantive work for our clients. Our three core practices are Corporate, Strategic Transactions & Licensing, and Funds.
Here's what survey respondents had to say about the firm's culture...
“Gunderson has a very relaxed and friendly culture. When people are stressed, it feels more like us-against-the-world rather than us-against-each-other.”
“Gunderson Dettmer is truly the best of big law when it comes to culture. The commitment to work-life balance is unlike anything else in the industry.”
“There’s the ability to be yourself, people are friendly and cordial, and there are no ‘partners to watch out for’ who wouldn't be desirable to work for.”
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
56% |
24% |
40% |
||
|
reported diverse staffing on teams/cases/matters |
of partners are women |
of associates identify as ethnically diverse |
||
The view from the firm: At Gunderson, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment in which each employee can excel and thrive. We seek to enrich our firm by recruiting, retaining and promoting attorneys, paralegals, and professional staff from diverse backgrounds, and with wide-ranging experiences. Our efforts help establish an inclusive work environment where all Gunderson employees are respected and appreciated for their unique perspectives and each employee can succeed and flourish. We believe that a workforce comprised of individuals with a broad set of backgrounds, experiences and beliefs who openly and fully engage with each other is essential to advising our clients effectively and providing fresh and innovative legal solutions.
Highlights of activities and accomplishments from the past year:
- The Women’s Affinity Group completed the inaugural Women’s Affinity Group Mentoring Program
- Internal trainings and workshops, including Microaggressions training, speaker series from the Women’s and Black affinity groups, cultural heritage and awareness events led by a variety of affinity groups throughout the year.
- Affinity group sponsored events, including a presentation in honor of National Coming Out Day, “Financial Success Doesn’t Start in Your Wallet” workshop, alumni panel discussions, community dinners, and game nights.
- The firm also sponsored attendance at a variety of professional development conferences and conventions with organizations such as AfroTech, Chart Your Own Course, Lavender Law, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and South Asian Bar Association.
Pro Bono
|
undisclosed |
27% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm is committed to pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: Animal Partisan (animals’ rights); United Way (community and small business support); Start Small Think Big (community and small business support); Tahirih Justice Center Clinic (civil rights); Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. (arts).
Sustainability & CSR
The view from the firm: Gunderson Dettmer has long believed in creating environmentally stable and sustainable spaces, promoting healthy work habits, and other amenities that promote well-being. We use responsible sourcing and work hard to have programs for recycling, composting and other responsible disposition programs.
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Gabriella Figueroa
Legal Recruiting Manager