fnMentoring helps you accelerate your startup and expand your high tech network through private advising sessions with featured guest experts. Sessions are free to members but require your RSVP. If you are not a member you can apply here. Next week’s featured topic will be:
Legal Issues & Risks with Customer Data
The news has been filled recently with stories about breaches of security and breaches of privacy at prominent consumer and B2B Brands. Congress and the FTC are becoming increasingly aggressive in their investigative and enforcement activities. The stakes for young companies have never been higher. Aaron Fiske and Anna Westfelt from Gunderson Dettmer will speak about privacy and address your questions about managing customer data and privacy issues in the emerging growth company context. We will cover topics including:
- Applications that share private information, including mobile address books, and how the FTC enforces user data and privacy
- Data security laws and regulations, including state-specific statutes
- The EU Data Protection directive and other EU privacy-related regulations and how they matter to you and your startup
- Vendor and buyer risks and how to mitigate contractually
Company:
Gunderson Dettmer
Founded more than fifteen years ago, Gunderson Dettmer has become the nation’s leading business law firm for entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies and venture capitalists. Building upon the idea that “best of breed” wins, we are a different sort of law firm—a business law firm consisting solely of business lawyers. The primary focus of the firm is to assist our clients in solving business problems, executing business strategies and achieving critical business objectives.
With more than 140 lawyers in four offices–Silicon Valley, Boston, New York, and San Diego—we represent companies in every stage of development—from startup through entry into public equity markets and beyond. Our expertise includes general corporate and securities matters, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity fund formation, representation of venture capital and private equity investors, representation of investment bankers, intellectual property and strategic alliances, cross-border transactions, tax, executive compensation, and employment law.
Aaron Fiske, Associate at Gunderson Dettmer
Name:
Aaron Fiske
Position:
Associate
Background:
Aaron is an intellectual property associate in the Silicon Valley office of Gunderson Dettmer. Aaron specializes in corporate partnering, strategic alliances, technology protection, and licensing and commercialization of intellectual property and technology assets. He has particular expertise in legal issues relating to open source software, and has designed and implemented open source software compliance programs for various technology clients. Aaron also focuses on transactional IP issues arising in connection with our clients’ financing and M&A activities.
Prior to joining Gunderson Dettmer, Aaron was an associate in the Boston office of Sullivan & Worcester, LLP, where he advised emerging and established companies on diverse matters including intellectual property, formation, financings, restructurings, and equity compensation.
Aaron holds a J.D., magna cum laude, from Boston University School of Law, as well as a B.A. in Computer Science from Dartmouth College. While attending Boston University School of Law, Aaron was a Dean’s Scholar, a G. Joseph Tauro Distinguished Scholar, a Paul J. Liacos Distinguished Scholar, and a recipient of the Melvin E. Bigelow scholarship award. In addition, he was president of the Intellectual Property Law Society, and an article editor for the Journal of Science and Technology Law.
Aaron is admitted to practice in both California and Massachusetts.
Anna Westfelt, Intellectual Property Associate at Gunderson Dettmer
Name:
Anna Westfelt
Position:
Intellectual Property Associate at Gunderson Dettmer
Background:
Anna is an intellectual property associate in the Silicon Valley office of Gunderson Dettmer. Anna specializes in corporate partnering, strategic alliances, technology protection, and licensing and commercialization of intellectual property and technology assets. Anna has particular expertise in US and EU data privacy laws, as well as legal issues relating to open source software. Anna also focuses on transactional IP issues related to our clients’ financing and M&A activities.
Prior to joining Gunderson Dettmer, Anna was an intellectual property associate in the San Francisco office of Kirkland & Ellis, LLP. Prior to Kirkland & Ellis, she was an associate in the London office of Herbert Smith, LLP.
EDUCATION: LL.M., University of California at Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall). Graduate Diploma in Law, Nottingham Law School. M.A., English Literature and History of Art, University of Edinburgh
ADMISSIONS: State Bar of California. Law Society of England and Wales
fnMentoring is on Thursday, 8/16/12 beginning at 10:30am. I is an in-person event and will be held at the offices on Gunderson Dettmer in Redwood City, CA. Please RSVP here to meet with our featured guest(s).
If you are a startup founder and want to learn more about the benefits of Founders Network please click here.
Looking for startup advice, connections, and insights?
Tap into a global network that enables you to answer questions, build relationships, and gain the perspective you need to move faster.
Peer mentorship with fellow tech founders
Pitch practice with Tier 1 VCs
Accelerator grade discounts
