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Our Team

Our tech-focused advisors help founders and funders alike navigate legal complexities with a commercial-first mindset.

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mike heath | orrick tech studio

Mike Heath

I'm a tech lawyer that works with startups, growth companies and venture capital funds. I help with formation, financings (equity, convertible, debt) and liquidity (M&A and IPO). I also help quarterback legal more generally for my clients – many of my clients think of me as their outside general Read More I'm a tech lawyer that works with startups, growth companies and venture capital funds. I help with formation, financings (equity, convertible, debt) and liquidity (M&A and IPO). I also help quarterback legal more generally for my clients – many of my clients think of me as their outside general counsel.

Clients I've worked with: Mashgin | FloQast | Loop | Red 6 | Susa Ventures

Contact me Partner, Los Angeles [email protected] +1 310 633 2817
  • What inspires you about working with tech companies?

    I'm a tinkerer. As a kid I'd disassemble our family PC and put it back together because it was fun. I'd rig up little electronic systems using random left-over parts from Radio Shack. I'd play around in the Windows Registry to find out how much I could break before I'd have to reinstall Windows 95. As an adult I still enjoy building and maintaining my own Linux home servers and home automation systems. Working with tech companies feels like I've found my people. Our clients are people who have found the world as it is, and think to themselves, "I wonder why things are that way. The status quo doesn't make a lot of sense. What if we tried to do it differently?" That outlook resonates a lot with me.

  • Where do you find inspiration in life?

    The mountains in winter. Snowboarding and skiing is my happy place.

  • If you weren't a tech lawyer, what would you do?

    Astronaut. Please ignore that I'm likely too tall and wholly unqualified for NASA.

  • Tell us about a favorite book, work of art or piece of music?

    My favorite piece of literature is Catch-22. I love the non-chronological storytelling, the Rashomon-like reveals of additional information in scenes you thought you knew, and the general absurdity of the plot. But the most impactful book I've read was "Breath" by James Nestor. It was recommended to me by Ron Rofe at Rainfall Ventures and it completely changed the trajectory of my life. Sometimes the right book at the right time can have a profound impact on your life.

    Gregory Heibel

    Gregory Heibel

    I've spent my career working for and with startups of all stages beginning with my time selling solid state electric meters in the APAC region, and my role as an associate at a Swiss-based venture fund, before practicing law in the Silicon Valley. My representation of high growth companies and Read More I've spent my career working for and with startups of all stages beginning with my time selling solid state electric meters in the APAC region, and my role as an associate at a Swiss-based venture fund, before practicing law in the Silicon Valley. My representation of high growth companies and their investors leans on this experience to apply market context to sophisticated financing, acquisition and commercial transactions globally. I also work with some of the world's most important technology companies to help guide their early stage investment processes.

    Clients I've worked with: Go1 | Logikcull (acquired by Reveal) | Syllable | Microsoft | Workday

    Contact me Partner, Silicon Valley [email protected] +1 650 614 7394
    • What inspired you to become an emerging companies and venture capital lawyer?

      As the son of a serial entrepreneur, I early on learned the intense highs and lows of starting companies, and I always knew that I needed to be a part of energy. There is a special thrill and pride that comes from being an advisor to a company from their formation to their exit, living with and guiding the founders through the trials and tribulations that come from taking a raw startup to success. I never forget that a startup is deeply personal for its founders, and I'm honored to share that.

    • If you weren't a tech lawyer, what would you do?

      I would have gone to medical school and become an emergency medicine physician. There is something raw and important about being a physician who doesn't know what emergency will arrive at their doorstep next, but who also knows that they will be ready to take care of that emergency because they've prepared for years for each of those encounters.

    • Tell us something we'd be surprised to know about you.

      I have a pair of first class seats from a 757 in my office. It even still has the Airfone in the armrest (remember those?).

    • What technology are you most excited to see develop?

      I believe that the application of AI to healthcare will fundamentally change how humans live and thrive, and it will do so in ways that we can't yet imagine. I think the benefits will most prominently be seen in parts of the world where putting access to AI's clinical insights in the hands of caregivers to diagnose early and treat patients effectively without the need for expensive equipment like MRI's and CT's.

    • What is your ideal weekend?

      A long overnight flight with my wife to an exotic city for a fantastic dinner before waking up at a luxury hotel with a really great breakfast buffet.

    • What's the best advice you've ever received?

      Never threaten, just do.

      Dolph Hellman

      Dolph Hellman

      Having practiced transactional law for almost 35 years, I've developed 2 different areas of expertise in the tech and life sciences ecosystem - (i) venture debt and (ii) VC fund formation. In terms of venture debt, I've been assisting tech and life sciences companies at all different stages of Read More Having practiced transactional law for almost 35 years, I've developed 2 different areas of expertise in the tech and life sciences ecosystem - (i) venture debt and (ii) VC fund formation. In terms of venture debt, I've been assisting tech and life sciences companies at all different stages of growth with venture debt transactions since the late 1990's when venture debt first become available to start-up companies. Over the years, I worked on hundreds (if not thousands) of such financing transactions. In terms of VC fund formation, I've been assisting sponsors of VC funds - and in particular emerging managers - in connection with VC fund formation for over 15 years. I really enjoy working with founders and venture capitalists because it allows me to be more than just a technical lawyer. Instead, it allows me be also be a trusted advisor which is very rewarding. If you're looking for a trusted advisor to assist you with either venture debt or VC fund formation, then I'm your guy!

      Clients I've worked with: Facebook | Coinbase | Luminar | UpStart | Pathbreaker Ventures | Fifty Years | Mindset Ventures | K5

      Contact me Partner, San Francisco [email protected] +1 415 773 5678
      • What inspires you about working with tech companies?

        I really enjoy working with founders and emerging managers in the tech and life sciences space since I know that I am really adding value to their companies/VC funds. Often the advice and guidance I provide can mean the difference between success and failure, so I take on this responsibility very seriously. I also think it's cool to watch many of our clients evolve from being a team of just a few people to multi-national entities with thousands of employees.

      • If you weren't a tech lawyer, what would you do?

        Maybe a lawyer in the entertainment industry. In particular, I find the music industry (and in particular the area of music law) to be very fascinating.

      • What technology are you most excited to see develop?

        Autonomous vehicles. Once that technology is perfected it will be a real game changer in terms of mobility.

      • What's the best advice you've ever received?

        Don't put off to tomorrow what you can accomplish today. Procrastination is a terrible habit - particularly for a lawyer to have - so I try to stay on top of my work projects as much as is humanly possible.

        Bailey Higgs

        Bailey Higgs

        I work on a variety of corporate transactions; my practice focuses on capital markets transactions, but I also work with early-stage companies and founders. My main passion is people. I love getting to know my clients and being a friendly face while helping them solve problems so they can focus on Read More I work on a variety of corporate transactions; my practice focuses on capital markets transactions, but I also work with early-stage companies and founders. My main passion is people. I love getting to know my clients and being a friendly face while helping them solve problems so they can focus on what matters most to them: their business.

        Contact me Associate, Seattle [email protected] +1 206 839 4366
        • What inspires you about working with tech companies?

          I love seeing such passionate, engaging, brilliant minds working to solve some of the world's biggest problems. I love that each person can take something they're interested in—from the environment to medicine to computers to so much more—and use technology to find innovative solutions to everything you can imagine.

        • If you weren't a tech lawyer, what would you do?

          If I wasn't a tech lawyer, I'd either be a doctor or a primary school teacher. I love science and medicine – I worked in clinical research for years before law school. Teaching/mentoring is another huge passion of mine and I volunteer regularly teaching English as a foreign language. I'm honestly not sure how I'd choose between the two.

        • What is your ideal weekend?

          My ideal weekend would consist of getting coffee and pastries with my husband and taking our two adorable rescue dogs to the park, binging a new tv show, seeing friends or family (especially our cute nieces and nephews), reading a good book, and cooking a good homemade dinner. It's the simple things for me.