Tim Chao
About Tim Chao
Tim Chao is a Product Counsel currently working at Notion, with extensive experience in legal counsel for technology companies. He has held positions at Salesforce, Snowflake Computing, and various law firms, and has a background in computer science and law.
Current Role at Notion
Tim Chao serves as Product Counsel at Notion, a position he has held since 2023. His role involves providing legal guidance to product teams within the organization. Notion operates in a hybrid work environment, and Chao is based in San Francisco, California. His responsibilities include ensuring compliance with legal standards and advising on product development strategies.
Previous Experience at Salesforce
Chao worked at Salesforce in two capacities. He served as Corporate Counsel, Product from 2015 to 2018, where he provided legal support to product teams for three years. He later held the position of Senior Corporate Counsel, Product (Director) for a five-month period in 2019. His tenure at Salesforce contributed to his expertise in legal matters related to technology products.
Experience at Snowflake Computing
From 2019 to 2023, Tim Chao was the Lead Product Counsel at Snowflake Computing. During his four years in this role, he was responsible for counseling product teams and navigating legal complexities associated with product development in a high-growth technology environment.
Legal Background and Education
Chao has a solid legal background, having studied at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School where he earned his Juris Doctor (JD) from 2005 to 2008. Prior to his legal education, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering from UCLA, studying from 1998 to 2002. This combination of legal and technical education supports his ability to advise technology companies effectively.
Early Career and Technical Experience
Before transitioning to law, Tim Chao worked as a Senior Software Engineer at Siebel Systems from 2002 to 2005. He also gained legal experience as an Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP from 2008 to 2012 and at Kaye Scholer LLP from 2012 to 2015. His early career in software engineering and subsequent legal roles have equipped him with a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and law.