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Mark G. Parnes
Partner Emeritus
Corporate
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  • Former General Counsel

    Mark previously served as general counsel to Wilson Sonsini, handling risk management, ethical, and other legal aspects of law practice at the firm.

  • Employment Law Litigation

    Mark led the firm’s employment law group for many years, specializing in employment law litigation and counseling, trade secret and employee mobility matters, and general commercial litigation.

  • Pro Bono Leadership

    Mark managed the firm’s pro bono program in partnership with the Pro Bono Committee and was instrumental in integrating pro bono into the firm’s culture and practice.

Mark Parnes joined Wilson Sonsini in 1982, when the firm had just 40 lawyers. Before his retirement in February 2024, Mark served on the management team for nine years as general counsel to the firm’s global offices, after having been assistant general counsel for many years. He was responsible for risk management, legal compliance, and ethical issues for the firm and helped guide firm strategy.

Prior to his work in the Office of the General Counsel, Mark was a partner in the litigation department, specializing in employment law litigation and counseling, trade secret and employee mobility matters, and general commercial litigation. He was the practice leader for the employment law group for many years.

Mark also served as an advisor to the Wilson Sonsini Foundation and managed the firm’s pro bono program in partnership with the Pro Bono Committee. He was instrumental in integrating pro bono into the firm’s culture and practice, ensuring access to justice through partner and associate participation and service.

Experience

Mark Parnes joined Wilson Sonsini in 1982, when the firm had just 40 lawyers. Before his retirement in February 2024, Mark served on the management team for nine years as general counsel to the firm’s global offices, after having been assistant general counsel for many years. He was responsible for risk management, legal compliance, and ethical issues for the firm and helped guide firm strategy.

Prior to his work in the Office of the General Counsel, Mark was a partner in the litigation department, specializing in employment law litigation and counseling, trade secret and employee mobility matters, and general commercial litigation. He was the practice leader for the employment law group for many years.

Mark also served as an advisor to the Wilson Sonsini Foundation and managed the firm’s pro bono program in partnership with the Pro Bono Committee. He was instrumental in integrating pro bono into the firm’s culture and practice, ensuring access to justice through partner and associate participation and service.

Focus Areas
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