top of page
GUNNAR GUNDERSEN

Helping Clients Protect IP Assets and Navigate a High-Tech and Data-Driven Marketplace

I work with you to leverage your IP-assets and data to maximize their value. I also use my general experience in corporate law to help clients make important business decisions, including those involving litigation. For clients who do not have in-house staff, I often function as a general counsel.  

MORE ABOUT GUNNAR

I understand that every company has IP and data assets, even if it is not a traditional "technology" company. My experience is well matched to any company looking to maximize the value of its brand, data, and IP assets, while navigating complex business and customer relationships. My experience with entrepreneurs also has made me uniquely positioned to serve in a general counsel capacity for businesses and individuals who do not have in-house counsel.  

​

  • Involved in over $4.5 billion worth of intellectual-property deals and licensing throughout the course of my career

  • International negotiation with multinationals involving complex IP and data agreements

  • Modernizing customer licensing, SaaS agreements, and vendor agreements to meet modern business conditions

  • Building brands and trademark portfolios

  • IP-asset valuation 

  • Litigation experience, including at the United States Supreme Court and the International Trade Commission

  • Negotiating joint venture and other cooperative agreements with important IP and data assets

  • Developing customer-facing agreements to address privacy and data-leveraging goals

  • Business formation and mergers and acquisitions 

​

​

EDUCATION

Throughout my career, I've sought to maintain a high level of academic excellence, which provides me with enriching experiences that I leverage to benefit my clients:

  • J.D., summa cum laude, Pepperdine University School of Law (valedictorian), Order of the Coif

  • ABA Minority Fellowship in Environmental Law: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (Summer 2005).

  • 11 CALI awards (top grade in class) 

  • Master's Certificate in Legal Writing from the Academy of American Legal Writers (Executive Director Bryan Garner), Jackson Achievement Award for excellence in legal writing

  • Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering, with an emphasis in biotechnology, from the University of Southern California

  • USC Trustee Scholar (full tuition)

  • USC Order of the Torch (leadership award)

  • USC Supplemental Instructor for Physics: Electricity and Magnetism

  • Merit Research Scholar at USC School of Engineering

  • General Motors/League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Scholarship recipient

EXPERIENCE

I began my legal career as a law clerk to Judge O'Scannlain on the Ninth Circuit. I then worked on intellectual-property matters at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Irell & Manella LLP, and Latham & Watkins LLP. I am licensed to practice law in California and Texas.

 

My legal experience has extended across a wide variety of industries and technical fields, including the following: 

 

  • private-equity funds

  • speech recognition

  • fintech

  • agriculture

  • health foods

  • film

  • memory chips

  • mobile-web browsing

  • music

  • seismic-data acquisition

  • oil and gas

  • LEDs

  • consumer electronics

  • e-cigarettes

  • DVRs

  • solar energy

  • video gaming

  • fashion

  • lens design

  • mesh topologies

  • art

  • link load balancing

  • financial services

  • wireless

  • e-commerce                                                                         

 

I have a commitment to pro bono, including drafting an amicus brief filed by the Intellectual Property Owners Association before the Supreme Court in Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Case No. 15-375.

​

I am a member of the Intellectual Property Owners Association, where I serve on the Copyright & Anti-Piracy Committee. I previously served on the Trade Secret Committee and was a member of the European Practice Committee when it was awarded the 2014 Outstanding Committee of the Year Award. 

​

I'm also fluent in Spanish and have a working understanding of French and Italian.

TESTIMONIALS

"Gunnar has been a tremendous asset to our business. He has helped navigate our start-up through some very murky IP waters and has saved us a tremendous amount of money in the process. He's just a great guy to work with and he knows his specialty inside and out."―Jason Mullen, CEO, Optic Arts, Inc.

 

“We have been working with Gunnar on a number of IP matters for over a year now. He has been very professional, responsive and great to work with. He is precise and to the point, does not waste time and gets the job done. He is our go-to guy for any IP legal matters.”―Andrew Alipanah, Saritek Technical Solutions, Inc., dba Alpatronix

PERSONAL LIFE

I am married to Wendi and have three children. When I am not advising clients, I enjoy spending time with my family, skiing, and listening to WQXR Operavore.


I'm also involved in various groups, including founding the Black Catholic newspaper, The Black Catholic Messenger, and the Pepperdine Law Alumni Network of Orange County. I am a speaker and lecturer on culture and constitutional and natural law. I can be contacted for speaking engagements. 

Gunnar Gundersen: CV
bottom of page