Hozefa is a partner at Gunderson Dettmer, based in Washington, DC, and has been at the firm since he graduated from law school. He represents startups and emerging growth companies throughout their lifecycles — everything from their formation and venture financings to their eventual exit. He also represents VCs and other investors in connection with their investments, including financings, tender offers and exits.

Hozefa builds a deep rapport with his clients, helping them anticipate issues and spot opportunities, leveraging his decades of experience working with founders on scaling their businesses and closing deals. Hozefa’s transactional pattern recognition helps him guide his clients on where to focus their energy during deals (and where not to focus, too). Over his many years of practice, Hozefa has developed extensive experience in the things that startups need, including corporate governance, securities law compliance, M&A strategy and much more.

As a former software engineer (AI and ML 20 years ago), founder, and law firm (Gunderson Dettmer!) client, Hozefa understands his clients’ needs for a practical and commercial perspective on their legal needs. He also brings to his clients Gunderson’s industry-leading experience representing high-growth companies in formations, financings, IPOs and M&A transactions to every engagement.

While Hozefa has led a number of notable transactions, such as the sale of Refinery 29 to Vice, the sale of Hotel Tonight to Airbnb, the sale of Shapeways to Galileo Acquisition Corp. and the sale of Shopkeep to Lightspeed, his passion lies in advising founders on the early decisions that set the stage for those later (and bigger) transactions.

In addition to his client work, Hozefa founded the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, because it’s hard enough to be a lawyer without having to also constantly think about whether you can bring your whole self to work.

Hozefa also serves on the firm’s Innovation Committee, where he seeks to implement technology and best practices to increase efficiency and improve client experience.

Hozefa’s favorite hobby these days is making up words with his daughter.

Hozefa is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law and the University of Florida.