Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP has elected six new partners, effective January 1. The elevations span the U.S. and add to the firm’s corporate and securities, venture and growth equity fund, public offerings/public companies, executive compensation and tax practices.

“We are delighted to welcome these talented lawyers as new partners,” said David T. Young, Gunderson Dettmer’s Managing Partner. “Each of them has contributed to the firm’s continued growth. They not only provide extraordinary service and guidance to our company and fund clients, but they are also trusted colleagues and mentors.”

The six new partners are:

Heather N. Aune, Executive Compensation, San Diego. Heather’s practice focuses on executive compensation and employee benefits-related issues for start-ups, emerging growth and public companies, including equity compensation plans, employment agreements, severance arrangements, bonus plans and other employment and benefits matters. She also advises on executive compensation-related aspects of mergers and acquisitions and public offerings.  Most recently she advised Tarsus Pharmaceuticals and Wish in their initial public offerings.

Jace E. Clegg, Tax and Funds, New York. Jace’s practice encompasses all areas of general corporate and partnership income taxation as well as the taxation of mergers and acquisitions (both domestic and cross-border). He is broadly experienced with partnership taxation and has worked on numerous matters involving structuring tax efficient commercial and transactional structures for our corporate clients. Jace’s practice also focuses on the formation and general representation of venture capital and growth equity funds and related entities.

Colin G. Conklin, Public Offerings/Public Companies and Corporate, San Francisco. Colin’s practice focuses on public and private offerings of securities for issuers and underwriters, SEC reporting and general corporate counseling of emerging growth technology and life sciences companies.  Colin has experience representing public and private companies and investors in a wide range of corporate transactions, including initial public offerings, business combinations, joint ventures, spin-offs and venture capital and other private financings involving equity, debt and convertible securities.

Ryan J. Gunderson, Public Offerings/Public Companies and Corporate, San Diego. Ryan’s practice focuses on representing emerging growth companies throughout their lifecycles, with a particular emphasis in initial public offerings and other capital market transactions and public company matters. He has also represented venture funds and companies in numerous venture capital transactions. Ryan serves as outside general counsel to a wide variety of life sciences and technology companies, including high-growth companies in the life sciences, software, consumer internet and telecommunications industries.

Nicholas G. Markman, Corporate & Securities, San Francisco. Nic’s practice focuses on representing emerging growth companies throughout their lifecycles. He represents a wide variety of technology companies from consumer internet, software, telecommunications and entertainment technology industries, as well as a number of leading angel investors and venture capital firms. Nic has worked with startup companies that have sold to Google, Yahoo, Cisco and others and continues to work with several companies that have gone public.

Jonathan P. Spencer, Corporate & Securities, San Diego. Jonathan’s practice focuses on representing emerging growth companies throughout their lifecycles. He has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings, founders and formations and corporate governance matters. Jonathan represents a wide variety of technology companies, including medical device and technology, genomics, logistics, AI, security and encryption, financial services and technology, software, telecommunications technology and entertainment and media platforms, as well as a number of leading venture capital firms.