Gunderson

With tech prowess second to none, and quality work worth a ton, time to take a run at Gunderson.

About the Firm

Can you imagine what it must have felt like to work for Apple during the release of the first iPhone? Or perhaps for Microsoft when commercially sold home computers were just getting off the ground? It must not be an entirely dissimilar feeling for associates at West-Coast born Gunderson, on the front lines of innovative technology and the dawn of a new age: AI.

The firm has been a go-to advisor for venture capital and equity for decades. Add to that its strong relationships with tech firms, and the current market, and you have all the ingredients for quite the busy few years. As one attorney buzzed: “If we’re supporting startups and there’s this AI boom, of course we’re going to be super busy!” As the industry has taken off, so has demand for legal counsel that can help startups with the legal side of their business.

“If we’re supporting startups and there’s this AI boom, of course we’re going to be super busy!”

The firm’s exclusive focus on transactional matters for its clients was certainly a plus for our insiders who really knew what they wanted. “I really appreciated that the firm as a whole has intentionally centered on the venture capital market,” one junior shared, “they don’t do litigation and other things where they might be chasing. I was really drawn to the fact they were dedicated to one kind of customer.”

Naturally, this focus lends itself to the firm having bases in California and the East Coast hubs. The Silicon Valley-San Francisco HQ takes the largest cohort of new associates. The firm has further offices across Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Diego, in addition to three international hubs. Our colleagues over at Chambers USA also feel the hype giving the firm its flowers in such groups as technology and venture capital in California, private equity in Massachusetts and startups & emerging companies nationwide.

Summer Program

Insiders reported that Gunderson put its best foot forward from the outset of the summer program as “everybody was really excited to be at work and enjoyed being together.” In particular, juniors highlighted that the staff were looking out for them, telling us: “people want to help you perform and do better. I felt really well supported.” It’s not just ten weeks of good vibes though, summers will get the chance to request work from an assortment of different groups and may even get some client interaction by its end.

Strategy & Future

Rather than diversifying like many peer firms, Gunderson remains committed to its core areas of venture capital and equity funds. Global managing partner Jeffrey Higgins explains that this specialized approach is a huge calling card for the firm. “With our competitors, representing founders and investors is a part of their practice, but nobody has the singular focus that we do,” Higgins elaborates, “so if you want to do this kind of work, this is the place to be.” Unsurprisingly given its tech-heavy clientele, Gunderson is keen to adopt the latest innovations in legal tech, whether that’s AI or other programs to streamline workflow and increase efficiency. It was one of the first US-based firm to develop an internal tool using Gen AI back in 2023 – talk about ahead of the game. No one is resting on their laurels however, as the game is now afoot. “This is not in the future. The moment's now,” Higgins assures.

While the firm is famous for its California roots, it has branched out beyond its home state. In the last decade, Gunderson has opened offices in Austin, São Paulo and, mostly recently, Atlanta, giving it an on-the-ground presence in additional regions.

Gunderson’s strategy includes staffing leanly. There’s an “expectation that you’re learning to be an attorney and can talk to people – this firm values that more than others,” shared one associate. Higgins agrees, showcasing a consistency in what they value in their attorneys; “our best recruits have business sense, communication skills, interpersonal skills, the ability to talk to clients immediately and instill confidence in that client.”

Read more from Jeffrey Higgins under the ‘Get Hired’ tab.

Gunderson Dettmer is recognized as an Excellent Performer for AI Integration in our 2026 associate satisfaction survey.

The Work

Most practice groups at the firm operate a centralized staffing system with a dedicated staffer monitoring associates’ availability. “I like that system, it relieves the added stress of having to go out and find your own work,” pondered one rookie, “they do a good job of making sure the group is balanced and people are getting proper staffing assignments based on how busy they are.” It’s not uncommon for juniors to approach associates and ask to get involved as well, but as a firm exception, the tax/fund formation group exclusively uses a free market system.

Career Development

As practice groups err on the smaller side, associates get a boost from being able to work on a wide range of matters at various stages. “At least from my perspective, I feel like I’m professionally really well developed,” beamed one source, “I talk with people pretty frankly about the level I’m at and how I can progress from here.”

Due to the firm’s close connections with the sectors it serves, associates can take advantage of in-house openings for clients. “I don’t know if anyone in my group has left Gunderson to go to another firm, if they’ve left it’s to go in house,” admitted one interviewee, “you have these personal relationships with your clients because you know them from formation. They want to work with someone who knows their business.”

Partners work closely with associates during their performance reviews to identify career development goals, but “the onus is on associates to reach out to their partner mentor or associate mentor within the firm to pursue other types of work” and get the experience they need to progress. For those interested in partnership, we heard the path towards that goal is discussed openly. Regardless of where associates want to take their careers, the firm is willing to help them make it happen. Besides, it benefits everyone as “they want you to bring the business back to Gunderson.”

Hours & Compensation

Associates’ yearly target of 1,950 hours seemed more than manageable with all the work that’s flowing into our sources’ inboxes. That’s right, the firm is booked and busy with one insider musing that “it can be a bit of a challenge because we have a lot going on – that’s a good thing for our hours though.” Gunderson also offers 100 investment hours that include recruiting efforts, leading training and other such activities, in addition to an unlimited bucket of pro bono.

With business booming recently, some interviewees did note “it’s generally difficult to maintain a work/life balance and even though I feel like people in my group are pretty supportive there’s still an expectation that when things are busy, we prioritize work.” Of course, this isn’t unique to Gunderson (“pretty typical Big Law”) and we heard the firm tries its best to support its staff through those hectic times. Part of this picture is attorneys stepping in to help their colleagues where they can. “It’s a very supportive environment where we’re looking out for each other,” one newbie exclaimed, “we pick things off our plates when it’s busy and encourage each other to take a break.”

Compensation is on the Cravath scale and bonuses are market rate. Those who don’t make the hours target are eligible for a prorated bonus. All in all, the feeling among associates was “I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything in terms of salary.”

Gunderson Dettmer is recognized as a Strong Performer for Benefits & Quality of Life in our 2026 associate satisfaction survey.

Culture

“…People really know you here, and I don’t feel like I’m just billing for the sake of it.”

“The culture has definitely lived up to everything I was hoping it would be,” gushed one insider, reflecting the consensus among interviewees. The warm and supportive nature of the firm has created an environment perfect for our interviewees to thrive. Having meaningful relationships with their colleagues, including partners, made all the difference to our sources: “It’s such a key thing as to why people stay at the firm. People really know you here, and I don’t feel like I’m just billing for the sake of it.”

This all harks back to how the firm finds its people. “The type of person that Gunderson likes to hire is someone that has prior work experience and is good at talking to folks,” reckoned one insider, “you will be put in that position really early on. If that’s something law graduates want, then this is definitely the firm to go to.” In other words, much like the start-up clients Gunderson serves, associates need to be willing to put themselves forward and seek out opportunities with an entrepreneurial spirit.

Pro Bono

With an unlimited number of pro bono hours on offer, sources told us they’d do more if they could, but “the challenge is finding the time and a partner supervisor!” A better problem to have than a lack of opportunities, which is not the case here. Juniors can put themselves forward via the portal or speaking with partners, but equally there’s no pressure on associates if their schedules are packed with billable matters.

Gunderson’s pro bono cases tend to mirror its client work with a focus on transactional matters, so the offerings look a bit different to the average firm where litigation reigns supreme. Projects include partnering with law school clinics, as well as helping non-profits and small business owners from underrepresented groups with their contracts. “That’s definitely fun, working with those small business owners,” relayed one insider.

Inclusion

Community was also found elsewhere at the firm, with a special shoutout reserved for the firm’s women’s affinity group which seemed especially active. Other affinity groups include the Black affinity group, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, and veterans. “People generally make an effort and are generally supportive of each other in those groups,” explained one associate, admitting that “it can also be a nice way to vent or figure out strategies for dealing with difficult situations.”