Wilson Sonsini Launches Innovative General Counsel in Residence Program
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, today announced the launch of its innovative General Counsel in Residence (GCIR) program. Modeled after the entrepreneur-in-residence roles at venture capital firms, the GCIR program offers a short-term opportunity for accomplished general counsels from technology and life sciences companies to provide invaluable advice to the firm’s clients.
Through the GCIR program, clients gain unprecedented access to a wealth of practical knowledge and insights from peers who have successfully navigated similar challenges. By drawing on these shared experiences, clients gain a deeper understanding of their operational obstacles, avoid common pitfalls, and make more informed decisions regarding their legal priorities. This, in turn, helps clients strategically allocate resources, optimize operations, refine their legal functions, and broaden their business perspectives.
The GCIR program complements Wilson Sonsini’s Executive Advisory Program (EAP), which offers customized, long-term support to clients at every stage of growth—whether they are high-growth start-ups, late-stage companies preparing for an IPO, or large multinational corporations. Likewise, the EAP is designed to assist companies of all sizes, from those with limited or no in-house legal resources to those with established legal teams. For more information, visit the EAP overview page.
“We’re excited to launch our GCIR program, offering technology and life sciences clients direct access to trusted advisors who genuinely understand their specific needs,” said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. “Kiki Haar was the ideal candidate for our inaugural GCIR. With her extensive in-house background, she is uniquely positioned to support general counsels’ continued evolution as strategic leaders within the C-suite.”
Clark continued, “This program not only provides interim support that benefits both participants and clients, but also aligns with our EAP, which has a longer-term focus on client success.”
Katherine (Kiki) Haar has spent more than 20 years advising both public and private technology companies, having served as both in-house and outside counsel. Her work has spanned diverse industries, including enterprise software, telecommunications, digital entertainment, renewable energy, and investment banking.
Most recently, Haar served as general counsel at Sumo Logic, where she was instrumental in guiding the company through its transition from a late-stage private firm to a publicly traded corporation, and later to a private-equity-owned entity. In this role, she oversaw global legal affairs and acted as a strategic advisor to both the executive team and the board of directors. Before that, Haar was senior vice president, general counsel, and chief privacy officer at Informatica, where she managed a globally distributed team of legal, compliance, and license compliance professionals. Her experience spans various legal areas, including corporate governance, regulatory compliance, SEC reporting, privacy and data security, intellectual property, go-to-market and commercial matters, employment and equity compensation, and international legal affairs. Earlier in Haar’s career, she was a corporate and securities associate at Wilson Sonsini, focusing on representing technology companies in public and private offerings, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions.
“At Wilson Sonsini, clients are at the heart of everything they do, and the GCIR program is a perfect example of how the firm partners with them to deliver exceptional, forward-thinking service,” said Haar. “As the first participant in this program, I am honored to leverage my background to provide guidance that extends beyond traditional legal counsel. My goal is to help clients address their strategic, operational, and departmental initiatives with insights from real-world experience, gained through navigating similar challenges myself.”
Haar earned her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Chicago.
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