Liz Do currently serves as regulatory and product counsel at Stripe. Previously, she was commercial counsel at Stripe and corporate counsel at AppDynamics. Liz was a corporate associate in Wilson Sonsini’s Palo Alto office from 2013 until 2016. She earned her J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2013.

We recently spoke with Liz about her time at Wilson Sonsini, her experience moving in-house, and what led her to pursue a career in law, among other topics.

Could you tell us a bit more about your career trajectory, including your time at Wilson Sonsini?

I started my law career at Wilson Sonsini, first as a summer associate and then as a full-time associate in the corporate group. There, I worked with different types of clients (e.g., start-ups, investment firms, public companies) on a range of matters (e.g., VC financings, M&A deals, public company offerings). I gained valuable training and a wonderful network of friends and colleagues.

After Wilson Sonsini, I joined AppDynamics to support the company’s IPO and public company obligations. However, Cisco acquired AppDynamics shortly after I started, and there was no longer a need for a public company lawyer. I saw the change as an opportunity to develop a new skill set, and I pivoted to commercial legal work at AppDynamics. I enjoyed the cross-functional nature of the work and immediate payoff from closing deals.

I wanted to continue this work but have a greater impact, so I joined Stripe to help scale the commercial legal function. My role required me to understand and navigate Stripe’s products, operations, and regulatory positions. A few years ago, there was a need for someone to help build a program to support Stripe’s regulatory compliance in product development. I was excited for another opportunity to expand my skill set, so I pivoted to this new role and now I do a mix of product and regulatory counseling and program management. My career trajectory is a bit unconventional in terms of the different areas I’ve worked in, but the constant thread has been my desire to learn and connect with others who have graciously supported my professional development. 

What’s something interesting that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I was born in Vietnam and immigrated to America when I was four years old. My dad served as a paratrooper in the South Vietnam Army and spent 11 years in a POW camp subject to inhumane conditions. He and my mom wanted a better life for their kids, so they immigrated to America. Growing up, I witnessed their sacrifice and perseverance providing for our family: my dad was a mailman, enduring a three-plus-hour commute every day, and my mom cared for three kids while working as a manicurist. Their experience motivated me to seize opportunities and work hard to pursue my goals. This led me to become a first-generation college graduate, law school graduate, and practicing lawyer. I see my family’s journey as the embodiment of the American dream. 

What led you to pursue a career in law?

A bit of both. When my family immigrated to America, we all learned English, but my sisters and I were much more comfortable with it than my parents were. As a child, I acted as a translator and advocate for my parents in different settings: doctor visits, parent-teacher meetings, and everyday tasks like going to the grocery store, bank, or DMV. These experiences taught me the importance of clear communication, understanding needs, and advocating for others. They also gave me fulfillment and laid the foundation for my interest in law. When I got older, I pursued a law career because it felt like a natural extension of what I had been doing all along for my family.