Erika Athens
About Erika Athens
Erika Athens is a Product Counsel specializing in strategic partnering and commercial transactions, currently working at Gunderson Dettmer in Silicon Valley. She has a diverse background in legal roles across various companies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Square, and provides legal guidance to emerging growth companies in technology sectors.
Current Role as Product Counsel
Erika Athens serves as a Product Counsel, Strategic Partnering and Commercial Transactions Attorney at Gunderson Dettmer. She has held this position since 2022 in Silicon Valley, California. In her role, she specializes in drafting and negotiating various agreements, including end user license agreements, support and maintenance agreements, and collaboration and development agreements. Additionally, she provides strategic business advice with a legal perspective to emerging growth companies in diverse technology sectors, such as artificial intelligence and e-commerce.
Previous Experience at Gunderson Dettmer
Prior to her current role, Erika Athens worked at Gunderson Dettmer in multiple capacities. She was a Corporate & Securities Attorney from 2021 to 2022 for three months and served as a Summer Associate in 2020 for one month. During her time at the firm, she focused on corporate law and securities, contributing to various legal matters and client engagements.
Experience at Square
Erika Athens has extensive experience at Square, where she held several positions. She worked as a Disputes Resolution Specialist from 2015 to 2017 for two years, followed by a role as a Program Manager in Payments Risk from 2017 to 2018 for one year. Additionally, she served as a Junior Program Manager in Payments Risk for four months in 2017. Her roles involved managing risk and resolving disputes related to payment transactions.
Educational Background
Erika Athens studied at the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, formerly known as UC Hastings. She also attended Tulane University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Spanish. Her educational background provides a strong foundation for her legal career, particularly in corporate law and strategic partnerships.
Legal Experience and Specializations
Throughout her career, Erika Athens has gained significant legal experience in various roles. She worked as a Legal Associate at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for four months in 2020 and at Salesforce for three months in 2019. She has also contributed to legal marketing at UpCounsel, Inc. and served as a Research Assistant at USA TODAY. Her expertise includes assisting clients with major corporate partnering deals and strategic alliances, with a focus on licensing arrangements and SaaS offerings.