Bernardo Ainza
About Bernardo Ainza
I’m a corporate venture capital and technology transactions attorney with 10+ years of experience closing complex transactions and negotiating a wide variety of commercial agreements. I routinely manage and close 15-30 VC financings globally per year. Prior to attending law school, I worked in banking and financial services and held roles in wealth management, institutional sales, and mortgage wholesaling. In my current role at PayPal as Senior Manager, Legal - Ventures, I am responsible for providing legal counsel to the PayPal Ventures team in connection with global strategic investments (e.g., VC financings and shareholder matters). In my prior role as Senior Corporate Counsel with Laserfiche, a global enterprise content management (ECM) software company, I provided counsel to the company on a variety of legal matters including software licensing (on-premises and cloud subscriptions), services agreements, vendor agreements, RFPs, marketing agreements, intercompany agreements, employment law matters, IP-related matters, and privacy law matters. As a member of a 2-person legal team, I drafted, reviewed, and negotiated several hundred commercial agreements annually. In my previous roles as a VC and technology attorney with Orrick and Prospera Law (fka LKP), I represented early stage technology companies, including several Y Combinator companies, in formations, SAFE and VC financings, M&A, commercial agreements, technology transaction agreements, corporate governance matters, and securities law compliance (e.g., Reg D offerings). I also represented VCs and angel investors in their investment activities in early stage companies. As Counsel with Twentieth Century Fox ("Fox"), I worked with Fox Filmed Entertainment’s Strategy and Business Development Team and represented Fox in global corporate venture capital investments. I also advised Fox directors and board observers to such portfolio companies on corporate governance matters and represented Fox in theatrical marketing agreements and licensing agreements. Lastly, I worked on various M&A closing conditions and corporate law matters related to the sale of certain Fox assets to Disney for $71B. Specialties/Licenses: JD/MBA, Admitted to the State Bar of California (active), CA Real Estate Broker License (active), CFA Level III Candidate, Proficient in Spanish, MS Office. Educational Achievements: magna cum laude, Beta Gamma Sigma (MBA), Honors Graduate (both BSBA & MBA), Ohio State Fisher College of Business Pace Setter Award (awarded to top 1% of Fisher College students).