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Experienced Corporate Law Attorney
Donna's practice focused on the representation of growth companies, with a particular emphasis on corporate and securities issues. She represented clients in numerous corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and joint ventures.
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Broad Range of Clients
She represented private and public companies across a variety of industries, including telecommunications, internet infrastructure, networking, life sciences, computer software and hardware, clean technology and energy, and electronics.
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Extensive Firm Management Experience
Donna served as managing director of the firm, on the board of directors, and on the Policy Committee, and as chair or co-chair of the Compensation, Hiring, and Nominating Committees.
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A Recognized Practitioner
Among other honors, Donna was named a “Woman Leader in Technology Law” by The Recorder, recognized as a “Woman of Influence” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, and listed in Northern California Super Lawyers.
Donna Petkanics was a partner in the Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Her law practice focused on the representation of growth companies, with a particular emphasis on corporate and securities issues. She represented both privately held and public companies across a broad range of industries, including telecommunications, internet infrastructure, networking, life sciences, computer software and hardware, clean technology and energy, and electronics. Donna represented companies in many types of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, and joint ventures. She also counseled clients starting new businesses with respect to general corporate matters and protection of their intellectual property.
During her tenure at the firm, Donna served in a number of management positions, including managing director from 2000 to 2006; member of the firm's board of directors and Policy Committee; chair of the Compensation Committee; and co-chair of the Hiring Committee and Nominating Committee. She served on the board of directors of the Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation from 2000 to 2010.
Prior to attending law school, Donna was a staff economist in the Executive Office of the President during Jimmy Carter's administration and also worked for the House of Representatives. She began practicing at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in 1985.
Donna Petkanics was a partner in the Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Her law practice focused on the representation of growth companies, with a particular emphasis on corporate and securities issues. She represented both privately held and public companies across a broad range of industries, including telecommunications, internet infrastructure, networking, life sciences, computer software and hardware, clean technology and energy, and electronics. Donna represented companies in many types of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, and joint ventures. She also counseled clients starting new businesses with respect to general corporate matters and protection of their intellectual property.
During her tenure at the firm, Donna served in a number of management positions, including managing director from 2000 to 2006; member of the firm's board of directors and Policy Committee; chair of the Compensation Committee; and co-chair of the Hiring Committee and Nominating Committee. She served on the board of directors of the Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation from 2000 to 2010.
Prior to attending law school, Donna was a staff economist in the Executive Office of the President during Jimmy Carter's administration and also worked for the House of Representatives. She began practicing at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in 1985.
- J.D., UC Berkeley School of Law, 1985
- B.A., Economics, Northwestern University, 1980Member, Phi Beta Kappa
- Board Member, Northern California and Nevada Chapter, Alzheimer's Association
- Board Member, Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) (2012-2018); Chair (FY2014-FY2017)
- Trustee, UC Berkeley Foundation (2006-2011)
- Member, Board of Advisors, Stanford Community Law Clinic (2000-2006)
- Member, Board of Visitors, Northwestern University, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (2003-present)
- Member, Northwestern University San Francisco Bay Area Leadership Council (2008-present)
- Co-chair, Northwestern University San Francisco Bay Area Leadership Council (2008-2011)
- Chair, Committee on Realizing Business Potential, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2004-2005)
- National Judge, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2003-2005)
- Judge, Clean Tech Open (2006-2009)
- Board Member, VentureWell (2015-present)
- Honored by The Recorder as one of the "Women Leaders in Technology Law," 2013
- Named by the Silicon Valley Business Journal as a "Woman of Influence," 2013
- Recognized in the 2012-2018 editions of Northern California Super Lawyers
- Selected for inclusion in the 2013 edition of The International Who's Who of Information Technology Lawyers
- Selected for inclusion in the 2012 edition of The International Who's Who of Internet & e-Commerce Lawyers
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- State Bar of California
- J.D., UC Berkeley School of Law, 1985
- B.A., Economics, Northwestern University, 1980Member, Phi Beta Kappa
- Board Member, Northern California and Nevada Chapter, Alzheimer's Association
- Board Member, Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) (2012-2018); Chair (FY2014-FY2017)
- Trustee, UC Berkeley Foundation (2006-2011)
- Member, Board of Advisors, Stanford Community Law Clinic (2000-2006)
- Member, Board of Visitors, Northwestern University, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (2003-present)
- Member, Northwestern University San Francisco Bay Area Leadership Council (2008-present)
- Co-chair, Northwestern University San Francisco Bay Area Leadership Council (2008-2011)
- Chair, Committee on Realizing Business Potential, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2004-2005)
- National Judge, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2003-2005)
- Judge, Clean Tech Open (2006-2009)
- Board Member, VentureWell (2015-present)
- Honored by The Recorder as one of the "Women Leaders in Technology Law," 2013
- Named by the Silicon Valley Business Journal as a "Woman of Influence," 2013
- Recognized in the 2012-2018 editions of Northern California Super Lawyers
- Selected for inclusion in the 2013 edition of The International Who's Who of Information Technology Lawyers
- Selected for inclusion in the 2012 edition of The International Who's Who of Internet & e-Commerce Lawyers
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- State Bar of California
Select Transactions and Clients
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During the course of her career, Donna represented companies and underwriters in more than 70 public offerings.
- Public companies Donna represented include Agilent Technologies, Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, AXT, Inc., Calgene, Catalytica Energy Systems, Cell Genesys, Cypress Semiconductor, Foundation Health, Hewlett-Packard, LoudCloud, Pacific Biosciences, PMC-Sierra, Solectron Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Xactly Corporation, and Zilog.
Select Transactions and Clients
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During the course of her career, Donna represented companies and underwriters in more than 70 public offerings.
- Public companies Donna represented include Agilent Technologies, Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, AXT, Inc., Calgene, Catalytica Energy Systems, Cell Genesys, Cypress Semiconductor, Foundation Health, Hewlett-Packard, LoudCloud, Pacific Biosciences, PMC-Sierra, Solectron Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Xactly Corporation, and Zilog.
Select Speaking Engagements
- Donna is a frequent guest speaker on matters relating to corporate governance, executive compensation, and venture capital trends
- Adjunct Professor, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and Kellogg School of Management, 2018
- Lecturer, Berkeley Law, University of California, Berkeley - Venture Capital and Initial Public Offerings (Spring Semesters 2010-2013)
- Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business, IGNITE Program
Select Speaking Engagements
- Donna is a frequent guest speaker on matters relating to corporate governance, executive compensation, and venture capital trends
- Adjunct Professor, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and Kellogg School of Management, 2018
- Lecturer, Berkeley Law, University of California, Berkeley - Venture Capital and Initial Public Offerings (Spring Semesters 2010-2013)
- Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business, IGNITE Program
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