Timothy J. Harris

Mr. Harris is the Managing Partner of the Palo Alto Office and a partner in the Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Group. He specializes in representing startup companies and venture capital firms in corporate and securities matters.

In his startup practice, Mr. Harris advises emerging growth technology enterprises from formation through acquisition or initial public offering in matters including venture capital financing, debt financing, equity incentive compensation, and technology development (including licensing, joint development, distribution, and other technology transfer matters). He also represents venture capital firms, strategic corporate investors, and angel investors in their investments in startup companies.

Mr. Harris specializes in modeling complex capital structures, financing scenarios and liquidity events, helping entrepreneurs and investors analyze possibilities and understand consequences of various transaction structures. Mr. Harris represents startups and investors in a variety of technology sectors, including consumer and enterprise software, financial services technologies, wearable computing, semiconductor design, medical device, consumer retail and transportation industries.

Mr. Harris founded the firm’s Startup Speaker Series, which educates entrepreneurs on the legal issues they will face over the lifetimes of their startups.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Harris designed, programmed, and implemented software systems for clients in the financial services industry.

Mr. Harris was an Associate Editor of the Law Review and was elected to Order of the Coif at Northwestern University School of Law.

Mr. Harris was named the Richard H. Holton Teaching Fellow by the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley in 2012.