Chris F. Fennell

Chris F. Fennell

Partner Emeritus

Corporate Law Veteran

Chris retired in 2025 as a corporate law veteran with over 30 years of experience working with technology and life sciences companies, both public and private, through all stages of their development and growth.
Public Company Experience

He counseled publicly held companies extensively on disclosure matters, SEC compliance and reporting, follow-on and secondary offerings, NASDAQ and NYSE listing compliance, corporate governance, and other securities law issues.

Chris Fennell retired as a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in 2025. He began his legal career as an associate at the firm in 1989 and was elected partner in 1997. Chris advised technology and life sciences companies, both public and private, through all stages of their development and growth.

Chris's practice focuses on corporate and securities law, including general corporate representation, seed and venture capital financings, public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. Chris advised clients on matters ranging from formation to initial public offerings, predominately from the entrepreneur and company side. With over 25 years of experience, he also counseled publicly held companies on disclosure matters, SEC compliance and reporting, follow-on and secondary offerings, NASDAQ and NYSE listing compliance, corporate governance, and other securities law issues.

Prior to attending law school, Chris was a senior auditor and certified public accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co. in San Francisco.

Experience

Prior to attending law school, Chris was a senior auditor and certified public accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co. in San Francisco.

Education

J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1989
B.S., Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley, 1983

Credentials

Education

J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1989
B.S., Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley, 1983

Select Clients and Representations

Represented multiple emerging technology (e.g., Google, Mojave Networks, StarMine, Verplex Systems, WhiteSky) and life sciences companies (e.g., BaroSense, NovelMed) in formations, restructurings from LLC to C-corp, seed and venture financings, convertible debt financings, partnering agreements, employment and equity compensation matters, corporate governance, and general day-to-day corporate matters.
Represented multiple technology (e.g., Google, EPIC Design, Pinnacle Systems, StarMine, TriQuint Semiconductor, Yodlee) and life sciences issuers (e.g., Abgenix, Acclarent, Cardiac Pathways, Cholestech Corporation, Sequana Therapeutics) in initial public offerings.
Advised the management and boards of directors of multiple public companies (e.g., Align Technology, OmniVision Technology, Pete's Brewing Company, Seagate Technology, Solta Medical) on day-to-day corporate governance matters, as well as various follow-on equity and debt public offerings, 144A transactions, PIPE transactions, accelerated stock repurchases, debt redemptions, and going-private transactions.
Represented public and private purchasers and sellers (e.g., Align Technology, Cardiac Pathways, EPIC Design, Pinnacle Systems, Seagate Technology, Solta Medical) in M&A transactions.

Clients

Select Clients and Representations

Represented multiple emerging technology (e.g., Google, Mojave Networks, StarMine, Verplex Systems, WhiteSky) and life sciences companies (e.g., BaroSense, NovelMed) in formations, restructurings from LLC to C-corp, seed and venture financings, convertible debt financings, partnering agreements, employment and equity compensation matters, corporate governance, and general day-to-day corporate matters.
Represented multiple technology (e.g., Google, EPIC Design, Pinnacle Systems, StarMine, TriQuint Semiconductor, Yodlee) and life sciences issuers (e.g., Abgenix, Acclarent, Cardiac Pathways, Cholestech Corporation, Sequana Therapeutics) in initial public offerings.
Advised the management and boards of directors of multiple public companies (e.g., Align Technology, OmniVision Technology, Pete's Brewing Company, Seagate Technology, Solta Medical) on day-to-day corporate governance matters, as well as various follow-on equity and debt public offerings, 144A transactions, PIPE transactions, accelerated stock repurchases, debt redemptions, and going-private transactions.
Represented public and private purchasers and sellers (e.g., Align Technology, Cardiac Pathways, EPIC Design, Pinnacle Systems, Seagate Technology, Solta Medical) in M&A transactions.

Recent Insights

Client Highlights

On April 8, 2021, Exodus Movement, Inc., the developer of the Exodus Wallet, a leading non-custodial cryptocurrency software platform, commenced its offering pursuant to Regulation A under the Securities Act of 2,733,229 shares of Class A common stock, of which 1,914,661 shares are offered by Exodus and 818,568 shares are offered by certain of Exodus’ existing stockholders, at a price per share of $27.42, payable in Bitcoin, Ethereum or the USDC stablecoin. The offering is being conducted exclusively on the Exodus Wallet. Exodus intends that each share of Class A common stock will be represented by digital common stock tokens viewable through the Exodus Wallet within the next nine months. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is representing Exodus in the transaction.

Founded in 2015, Exodus is a multi-asset software wallet that makes cryptocurrency and digital assets easy for everyone. Available for both desktop and mobile, Exodus allows users to secure, manage, and exchange cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and more across an industry-leading 10,000-plus asset pairs from an easy-to-use wallet. The non-custodial functionality is encrypted locally on users’ own devices, ensuring privacy, security, and complete control over their wealth. Exodus is on a mission to empower half the world to exit the traditional finance system by 2030.

The Wilson Sonsini team representing Exodus includes:

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