Veteran GC Brings Decades of Strategic Legal and Business Leadership to Support Clients on Transactions, Risk, and Growth
Contact:
Kimberly Brooks
212-453-2881
kbrooks@wsgr.com
PALO ALTO, CA (July 22, 2025)—Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, today announced that David Grawemeyer, a veteran general counsel and accomplished legal professional, has joined the firm’s General Counsel in Residence (GCIR) program.
Grawemeyer brings more than 20 years of experience leading legal departments at public and private companies across fintech, asset management, financial services, and real estate. He is widely recognized for aligning legal strategy with business objectives, managing enterprise risk, and navigating complex corporate events, including mergers, financings, and regulatory changes.
“David has successfully led legal teams through periods of rapid growth, disruption, and transformation,” said Patrick Schultheis, a partner at Wilson Sonsini. “His ability to build and scale legal departments—paired with deep experience in strategic transactions and fast-paced, highly regulated environments such as fintech and financial services—makes him an exceptional asset. Through the GCIR program, clients will benefit from his pragmatic, forward-looking counsel that drives momentum and sharpens competitive edge.”
Most recently, Grawemeyer operated as a sole practitioner, providing outside general counsel and project-based legal services to fintech and financial services companies, advising on strategic transactions, compliance, and governance.
Previously, he served as chief legal officer at QRails, Inc., a cloud-based, API-driven issuer-processor behind the AnyDay earned wage access solution. There, he led global legal operations, spanning corporate governance, capital markets, commercial contracts, regulatory compliance (including anti-money laundering, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau matters, and data privacy), litigation, employment, and IP. He also negotiated strategic partnerships and structured revenue-driving commercial agreements, supporting QRails’ 2023 acquisition.
Before joining QRails, Grawemeyer was vice president of legal affairs at Arrow Electronics, a Fortune 200 technology company with over 19,000 employees. He led a commercial legal team, managing legal matters across North America, including M&A, joint ventures, supplier and distribution agreements, litigation, and IP strategy.
Earlier in his career, he served as general counsel and corporate secretary of Janus Capital Group, a publicly traded global asset manager with nearly $200 billion in assets under management. There, he led a legal, risk, and audit team, driving corporate strategy and overseeing a $6 billion merger, a strategic alliance with a major Japanese insurer, and key governance, reporting, litigation, and executive compensation initiatives.
His previous roles also include senior legal positions at Prologis, Capmark Capital, and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, where he advised on global mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate finance, and regulatory matters. He began his legal career as a partner at Mayer Brown, advising public and private companies on complex corporate and securities transactions.
Grawemeyer earned his J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School and a B.A., cum laude, from Duke University.
“I’m honored to join Wilson Sonsini, a firm that’s long been at the forefront of the innovation economy,” said Grawemeyer. “The GCIR program offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with clients and attorneys on a wide range of legal and business issues—from strategic transactions and compliance to litigation and governance. My focus is on delivering pragmatic solutions that support sustainable growth and address the evolving needs of modern businesses.”
Launched in February 2025, Wilson Sonsini’s GCIR program provides clients with short-term access to seasoned former general counsel who have faced similar challenges. By tapping into their firsthand experience, clients can gain practical insights, avoid common pitfalls, and make more informed legal decisions. The program complements the firm’s Executive Advisory Program (EAP), which provides long-term, tailored support to companies at every stage of growth—from early-stage start-ups to multinational enterprises.
About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini’s services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has more than 1,000 attorneys and 17 offices in 16 technology, business, and regulatory markets across the United States, Asia, and Europe. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.