The L Suite (TechGC)

Big news! We’re thrilled to announce that Kenya Thacker Pierre, General Counsel at Robust.AI, will be our first L Suite Chapter President in Atlanta, Georgia. Kenya’s previous experience includes roles as GC at Strava, Yardstick Management and ARAUCO, Assistant GC at Kimberly-Clark, and in-house patent counsel at Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble. At The L Suite, we stand by the idea that “It takes a community to build a community” – a guiding principle of the Chapter President program. As Chapter President, Kenya will focus on building community and empowering connections among Tech GCs in Atlanta. Whether you’re a current member or simply interested in learning more, if you’re in the Atlanta metro area, please be sure to reach out to Kenya, with questions or simply a hello. Thank you again Kenya for your work to support this community! 

I had a wonderful time hosting a guided discussion on AI with Ashish Walia and Raad Ahmed at Lawtrades. There's so much interest, excitement, and concern about how AI will transform and impact so many industries--you have to be part of the discussion in order to positively shape the trajectory. Thank you to all of the participants for the thought-provoking and engaging conversation and of course to The L Suite (TechGC) for bringing us all together.

This is an incredible opportunity with The L Suite (TechGC) to help reframe how to consider your career path. Do it!

I'm thrilled to be participating in this The L Suite (TechGC) webinar tomorrow with Brandon Gantus! Join us for a discussion on pre-IPO equity compensation considerations, focusing on practical tips and strategies for companies to consider as they prepare for an IPO #theLsuite #TechGC

After nearly a decade, here's what our members are saying: "You enhance my in-house life on almost a daily basis!" - Melody Williams Dapp, General Counsel, NationBuilder "They say being a general counsel is a lonely job. And it can be. That's why it's so important to have a great legal network and community to rely on and collaborate with." - Rob Morvillo, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Olo "[The L Suite] is an extraordinarily valuable resource. Not only is there great "been there and done that learning," there is also a community of really nice and caring folks for you to spend time with. Being GC is a very hard job and [The L Suite] makes a real difference in your career." - Seth Weissman, Executive coach and former Chief Legal Officer, Marqeta "Every time I attend (or dial in to) a TechGC event: I learn something new, I meet someone new and interesting, and I come away with at least one new way of looking at things." - Jordan Mazur, General Counsel, Lively, Inc. "Literally every GC friend of mine has given me the same first piece of advice -- Join and go to all the events you can." -  Vivek Narayanadas, VP, Deputy General Counsel and Data Protection Officer at Maven Clinic We love our community 💚

I would like to say thanks to the attendees, and my fellow discussion leader Alessandra Murata, for the great conversation on executive compensation before, through, and after #IPO at the The L Suite (TechGC) IPO conference. As always, a great conference. If you are a fellow CLO or GC, I encourage you to look into joining The L Suite (nee TechGC).

As a GC, you've mastered the art of being a one-person legal department. You're the go-to for everything from IP strategy to employment law, from fundraising to compliance. But who's your go-to? In startups, the legal landscape shifts daily. New regulations, emerging technologies, and evolving business models create a perfect storm of complexity. And you're expected to navigate it all, often without a roadmap. Welcome to The L Suite. Here's what we offer: 1. 24/7 Peer-to-Peer Problem Solving: Our proprietary platform connects you with GCs facing similar challenges. That thorny AI ethics issue? Someone's already tackled it. 2. Exclusive, Curated Events: From intimate local dinners to our Fullstack GC Conference, gain insights you won't find in any legal textbook or conference. 3. Unique Data & Insights: Access our coveted compensation surveys and flash polls on emerging trends. Make decisions backed by real-time data from your peers. 4. Tailored Communities: Whether you're at a high-growth startup, a public company, or an investment fund, we've got a network specifically for you. 5. Team Development: Extend the benefits to your deputies and rising stars with our dedicated Deputy and Counsel communities. We believe that great legal minds think alike—and think better together.

Our co-founders Raad Ahmed and Ashish Walia had had an incredible trip to California last week, hosting dinners at Mother Wolf in LA and Birdsong in SF in partnership with The L Suite (TechGC). It was a pleasure to cohost alongside Michael Marchand in LA and Janel Thamkul in SF, engaging in great conversations with some of the brightest in-house leaders. From insightful discussions to exceptional food, these events were the perfect mix of networking and connection. A big thank you to everyone who joined us – it was a fantastic time getting to know all of you!

Thanks to all the IPO preparation roundtable attendees at the L Suite 2024 IPO Conference last week and Beth LeBow at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP for stepping in for Nicole Brookshire to co-lead the session with me. Great discussion, questions and enthusiasm from the talented team of General Counsels and CFOs at the conference. The L Suite (TechGC) is an invitation-only network of General Counsels and CFOs and the IPO conference is one of my favorite events.  Great to hear from so many successful GCs and CFOs including Peter McGoff at Rubrik, Benjamin Lee at Reddit, Bill Koefoed at OneStream, Anthony Kappus at RedFin and many others about their IPO journeys

The 2024 IPO Conference at San Francisco's Palace Hotel delivered a day packed with candid insights from IPO veterans across four captivating mainstage presentations. "You've Decided to IPO - Now What?" set an optimistic tone with Mehgan Peetz (Shoals Technologies) declaring, "Everyone in this room contemplating an IPO, you're at a massive advantage!" Jamie Evans (Orrick) and Samir A. Gandhi (Sidley Austin) captured the room with a vivid analogy: "The IPO process is equivalent to running a race and putting your clothes on at the same time." Bill Koefoed (OneStream) shared valuable lessons on staying visible to investors even in challenging markets, stemming from his experience with OneStream’s successful July IPO. Sarah Axtell (Latham & Watkins) and Emily Roberts (Davis Polk) co-hosted "Crafting Your IPO Story: Inside Reddit's Groundbreaking IPO." During the discussion, Benjamin Lee (Reddit) explained how he worked with the SEC to host an "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) session during the typical quiet period, sparking considerable interest. Their unique directed share program for users further demonstrated how an IPO can truly reflect a company's culture. After lunch, "Equity Alchemy: Crafting IPO-Ready Compensation Plans" dove into the complexities of equity compensation. Elli Castro-Bordano (Astera Labs) shared insights on transitioning from options to RSUs before their IPO. Joining the discussion, Philip Mazzara (Astera Labs) emphasized the legal intricacies of the transition, while Anthony Kappus (Redfin Corporation) offered insights on the long-term benefits of evergreen provisions in equity plans. The session also featured contributions from Bradley Weber (Goodwin Proctor) and Ran Ben-Tzur (Fenwick & West). The day concluded with "Navigating the IPO Journey: A Cross-Functional Approach for GCs and CFOs," emphasizing the crucial partnership between finance and legal teams. Peter McGoff (Rubrik) shared strategies for managing internal expectations during leadership transitions, and Jayson Noland (HackerOne) stressed the importance of a unified approach to investor engagement. Jon Avina (Cooley) and John Savva (Sullivan & Cromwell) added their legal expertise, while Melanie Vinson (Confluent) highlighted the importance of team alignment during the IPO process. The conference featured small group breakout discussions designed for GCs and CLOs preparing for IPOs. In one, legal leaders discussed strategies for navigating the complex web of pre-public regulatory requirements, from financial disclosures to data protection. Another popular session tackled the unique challenges top lawyers face in gearing up their teams for the increased scrutiny and demands of a public company environment. A special thanks to our co-chairs Melanie Vinson (Confluent) and Jayson Noland (HackerOne) for organizing this event. It was truly an inspiring day!