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Represents Technology and Growth Clients
Yokum works with companies at all stages of development through private financings, strategic transactions, and mergers and acquisitions, as well as investors in VC financings.
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A Recognized Practitioner
Chambers USA consistently names Yokum as a leader in the startups and emerging companies and venture capital categories, in which clients noted that "his level of knowledge and experience is unparalleled."
Yoichiro (Yokum) Taku is a corporate and securities partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and a co-leader of the firm's emerging companies practice. Yokum represents technology and growth companies at all stages of development, through private financings, strategic transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. He also represents investors in venture capital financings. Yokum has advised numerous entrepreneurs from initial company formation to liquidity event. He has completed over 1,000 financings for start-up companies over his career.
Yokum also advises numerous companies with operations in Asia. Yokum worked at the Tokyo law firm of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu in 1994 and 1995.
Yokum maintains a resourceful site for the benefit of start-ups and entrepreneurs at www.startupcompanylawyer.com.
Yoichiro (Yokum) Taku is a corporate and securities partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and a co-leader of the firm's emerging companies practice. Yokum represents technology and growth companies at all stages of development, through private financings, strategic transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. He also represents investors in venture capital financings. Yokum has advised numerous entrepreneurs from initial company formation to liquidity event. He has completed over 1,000 financings for start-up companies over his career.
Yokum also advises numerous companies with operations in Asia. Yokum worked at the Tokyo law firm of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu in 1994 and 1995.
Yokum maintains a resourceful site for the benefit of start-ups and entrepreneurs at www.startupcompanylawyer.com.
- J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1993
- B.A., Political Science, University of Minnesota, 1990
- Former Chairman, Angel Venture Financing Subcommittee of the American Bar Association Business Law Section Committee on Venture Capital and Private Equity
- Former President and Board Member, Asian Law Alliance
- Recognized in the 2016-2026 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, in which clients noted that "he's a fantastic counselor and adviser,” “he really has his finger on the pulse of the Valley and how to get things done,” “he is extremely easy to get hold of and he explains complex topics well,” and “his level of knowledge and experience is unparalleled"
- State Bar of California
- J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1993
- B.A., Political Science, University of Minnesota, 1990
- Former Chairman, Angel Venture Financing Subcommittee of the American Bar Association Business Law Section Committee on Venture Capital and Private Equity
- Former President and Board Member, Asian Law Alliance
- Recognized in the 2016-2026 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, in which clients noted that "he's a fantastic counselor and adviser,” “he really has his finger on the pulse of the Valley and how to get things done,” “he is extremely easy to get hold of and he explains complex topics well,” and “his level of knowledge and experience is unparalleled"
- State Bar of California
Select Transactions
- Bonsai (sale to Zoom)
- DoyenAI (sale to Sage)
- DroneDeploy (sale to Procore)
- EZDubs (sale to Cisco)
- Getlabs (sale to Function Health)
- Panther Labs (sale to Databricks)
- Spindle (sale to Salesforce)
- Udemy (sale to Coursera)
Select Transactions
- Bonsai (sale to Zoom)
- DoyenAI (sale to Sage)
- DroneDeploy (sale to Procore)
- EZDubs (sale to Cisco)
- Getlabs (sale to Function Health)
- Panther Labs (sale to Databricks)
- Spindle (sale to Salesforce)
- Udemy (sale to Coursera)
Select Clients
- AstroMechanica (jet engines)
- Canals (AI-powered operating and workflow automation software)
- ConverzAI (AI for staffing/recruiting)
- Datacurve (data for foundational model labs)
- Elorian AI (visual and spatial reasoning foundation models)
- Horowitz Andreesen Academy (education)
- Iterable (customer engagement)
- Manas AI (AI native drug discovery and development)
- Monogram (AI user interfaces)
- Nex Team (gaming platform)
- Otter (AI meeting agent)
- PandaDoc (document automation and management)
- Performance Model (reinforcement learning environment)
- Periodic Labs (AI scientists and autonomous laboratories)
- Proximal AI (coding data)
- Remarcable (construction contractor software)
- Replit (software development platform)
- RudderStack (agentic customer data platform)
- Sage Care (AI health care navigation)
- Sail Research (infrastructure for AI agents)
- SewerAI (AI powered sewer inspection)
- Sift (fraud prevention)
- Solvely (AI study tools)
- Zania (AI for security compliance)
Select Clients
- AstroMechanica (jet engines)
- Canals (AI-powered operating and workflow automation software)
- ConverzAI (AI for staffing/recruiting)
- Datacurve (data for foundational model labs)
- Elorian AI (visual and spatial reasoning foundation models)
- Horowitz Andreesen Academy (education)
- Iterable (customer engagement)
- Manas AI (AI native drug discovery and development)
- Monogram (AI user interfaces)
- Nex Team (gaming platform)
- Otter (AI meeting agent)
- PandaDoc (document automation and management)
- Performance Model (reinforcement learning environment)
- Periodic Labs (AI scientists and autonomous laboratories)
- Proximal AI (coding data)
- Remarcable (construction contractor software)
- Replit (software development platform)
- RudderStack (agentic customer data platform)
- Sage Care (AI health care navigation)
- Sail Research (infrastructure for AI agents)
- SewerAI (AI powered sewer inspection)
- Sift (fraud prevention)
- Solvely (AI study tools)
- Zania (AI for security compliance)
- Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
- Climate and Clean Technologies
- Communications and Networking
- Consumer Products and Services
- Corporate
- Corporate Governance
- Data Storage and Cloud
- Digital Health
- Digital Media and Entertainment
- Electronic Gaming
- Emerging Companies and Venture Capital
- Financial Services
- Fintech
- Fintech and Financial Services
- Internet
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Mobile Devices
- Mobility
- Semiconductors
- Software
- U.S. Expansion