Partner
Silicon Valley
James (Jim) Jensen is the co-head of Orrick’s fund formation practice and a member of the technology transactions group (TCG). He advises investment funds and technology companies at every stage of growth. With two decades of experience spanning more than 1,000 investment fund and company transactions, he is known for bringing a practical, solutions-oriented approach to structuring, formation, financings, and exits.
Jim’s fund clients include established venture capital sponsors, first-time managers, private equity funds, hedge funds, search funds, accelerators and incubators, SPVs, and funds-of-funds. He counsels on all aspects of fund formation and operations, as well as institutional investments into funds, including limited partnership reviews and side letter negotiations.
On the company side, Jim guides founders and emerging companies from formation through IPO or M&A. He has advised clients across a wide range of industries—from AI, energy tech, fintech, digital media, biotech, mobile, and security to consumer-facing sectors like food distributors and restaurant services.
As one of the few attorneys who is on both sides of the table—as counsel to leading fund managers and as an entrepreneur raising capital—Jim brings a uniquely holistic perspective to his clients. He understands how fund terms translate into real-world implications for founders and investors alike, helping both sides anticipate issues before they arise and structure relationships that foster long-term alignment and value creation.
In addition to his legal practice, Jim is a seasoned technology entrepreneur. He has founded and managed multiple e-commerce and internet ventures through exit and is currently a co-founder of a startup focused on connecting funds and startups to investors and a co-founder of a legal tech startup focused on modernizing fund operations. This firsthand startup experience informs his counsel to clients—grounding his advice in the realities of building and scaling businesses in competitive markets.
Jim also draws on deep regulatory experience under the Securities Act, Exchange Act, Advisers Act, and Investment Company Act, helping funds and companies navigate compliance, exemptions, and investor disclosure obligations. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and universities and often serves as a judge at startup pitch events.
Before joining Orrick, Jim was a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Earlier, he served as general counsel of emerging markets at VantagePoint Capital Partners, where he managed hundreds of investment transactions for a $5 billion AUM venture capital firm.
