Jack A. Paterson

Originally from Ireland, Jack has been an associate at Gunderson for his entire legal career.  He specializes in the representation of emerging growth companies throughout their lifecycles, from formation to exit; and the venture funds that support them. He is broadly experienced in venture financing, SAFEs and convertible debt issuances, formation and capitalization of companies, governance complexities and later stage company issues, and secondary transactions and tender offers.  Outside of his transactional work, he provides day-to-day guidance to companies on corporate governance, employment, and equity compensation matters. 

Jack also specializes in mergers and acquisitions and has abundant experience in company side representation leading to successful exits: including HotelTonight and its acquisition by Airbnb, BetterCloud and its strategic investment by Vista Partners, Refinery29 and its acquisition by Vice, Caper and its acquisition by Instacart, Grailed and its acquisition by GOAT, SevenFifty Technologies and its acquisition by Provi among many others. Jack’s fund side representation includes multiple financings led by Imaginary Ventures (including Everlane, GlossGenius, GRIN, Mejuri, SIMULATE, SKIMS, Westman Atelier and Xiao Chi Jie) and multiple financings for Tiger Global, Addition, Coatue, Shine, Lux Capital and Union Square Ventures.

Jack was the Editor-in-Chief of the Trinity College Law Review. Between law school in Dublin and coming to study at Columbia in New York and embarking on his legal career, Jack worked at a startup in Dublin.

Jack is an associate convener of the firm’s LGBTQIA+ affinity group and member of the international affinity group; and has led Legal 101 education sessions for Primary Ventures Founders Fellowship. Jack also speaks French and enjoys working on transnational deals for both fund and corporate clients.