Withers grows San Francisco office with special counsel Jesse Berg

International law firm Withers announced today the arrival of veteran corporate lawyer Jesse Berg to its San Francisco office as special counsel. Berg, who has decades of experience advising on venture capital, technology, corporate and securities matters, most recently served as general counsel at Aumni, Inc., a fintech, software company which was acquired in 2023 by J.P. Morgan.

Over his 30-year legal career, Berg has served as both in-house and outsourced general counsel to individuals and businesses, including startups, privately held companies and entrepreneurs principally in the areas of technology, e-commerce, digital publishing, new media and gaming. He has also represented buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions as well as companies and investors in various stages of financing.

Jeremy Wakeham, global CEO of the firm's business division, commented, "I am excited about Jesse joining the firm for a number of reasons. His pedigree in the tech ecosystem is outstanding and his prior collaborations with Doug Mandell, head of our founder practice, fit perfectly with the firm's global focus on advising founders, particularly those of tech companies."

"Jesse is a true business lawyer who offers a deep understanding of corporate, transactional and management issues based on his experience advising successful companies from the inside and outside," said Marsha Laine Dungog, managing director of the firm's San Francisco office. "He has long been entrenched in the core issues facing our clients in the Bay Area – and beyond – and is an incredible asset to our team."

Berg has counseled founders, management, and boards of directors on best practices in areas such as business growth, capital raising and investor and employee relations, and has advised companies and individuals on commercial disputes. In the area of technology transactions, Berg has advised on drafting and negotiating various types of agreements such as license, manufacturing and SaaS agreements.

"Withers has a strong team and exciting client base in Northern California that closely aligns with my practice," Berg said. "I'm thrilled to join a firm that has earned a reputation for advising successful individuals and companies on their most significant matters."

Earlier in his career, Berg worked as an attorney at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and as general counsel for a leading interactive television software company, among other roles focused on advising startups and entrepreneurs. He earned both his J.D. and B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.