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Yoichiro (Yokum) Taku
Partner
Corporate
Palo Alto
ytaku@wsgr.com

D650-354-4251

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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.

  • 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.

Experience

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.

Education
  • J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1993
  • B.A., Political Science, University of Minnesota, 1990
Associations and Memberships
  • 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
Honors
  • 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"
Admissions
  • State Bar of California
Credentials
Education
  • J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1993
  • B.A., Political Science, University of Minnesota, 1990
Associations and Memberships
  • 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
Honors
  • 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"
Admissions
  • State Bar of California

Select Transactions

  • Represented companies that have been sold to Access, Apple, Cadence, EA, Earthlink, Facebook, Fox Interactive Media, Google, Intel, McAfee, Microsoft, Namco, Novellus, Nvidia, RockYou, Winbond, Yahoo!, Zynga, and many others
  • Represented issuer or underwriter in IPOs for Agora, Biopsys, Blaze Software, broadcast.com, Chemoil Energy, Convergent Group, Corsair, Ditech, drugstore.com, First Virtual, Hambrecht & Quist Group, Newgen Results, Packeteer, PeoplePC, Ramp Networks, Terayon, and Xylan.
Matters

Select Transactions

  • Represented companies that have been sold to Access, Apple, Cadence, EA, Earthlink, Facebook, Fox Interactive Media, Google, Intel, McAfee, Microsoft, Namco, Novellus, Nvidia, RockYou, Winbond, Yahoo!, Zynga, and many others
  • Represented issuer or underwriter in IPOs for Agora, Biopsys, Blaze Software, broadcast.com, Chemoil Energy, Convergent Group, Corsair, Ditech, drugstore.com, First Virtual, Hambrecht & Quist Group, Newgen Results, Packeteer, PeoplePC, Ramp Networks, Terayon, and Xylan.

Select Clients

  • Agora (video/voice API)
  • AngelPad (incubator)
  • Balbix (enterprise security)
  • Caffeine (live streaming platform)
  • Carbon Health (healthcare)
  • DroneDeploy (drone mapping software)
  • FundersClub (online venture capital)
  • Iterable (customer engagement)
  • Jerry (insurance)
  • Mudflap (fuel discount network)
  • Oishii (indoor vertical strawberry farm)
  • Otter.ai (AI meeting note taker)
  • Sift (fraud prevention)
  • PandaDoc (sales process software)
  • Udemy (online education)
Clients

Select Clients

  • Agora (video/voice API)
  • AngelPad (incubator)
  • Balbix (enterprise security)
  • Caffeine (live streaming platform)
  • Carbon Health (healthcare)
  • DroneDeploy (drone mapping software)
  • FundersClub (online venture capital)
  • Iterable (customer engagement)
  • Jerry (insurance)
  • Mudflap (fuel discount network)
  • Oishii (indoor vertical strawberry farm)
  • Otter.ai (AI meeting note taker)
  • Sift (fraud prevention)
  • PandaDoc (sales process software)
  • Udemy (online education)
Focus Areas
  • 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
Recent Insights
Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Advises SewerAI on Strategic Investment
On June 2, 2026, SewerAI, a leading AI platform for sewer and underground infrastructure intelligence, announced a major strategic investment led by JMI Equity, a leading growth equity software investor based in the greater Washington, D.C., area and San Diego, with continued participation from Innovius Capital, Epic Ventures, and Bentley Systems. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised SewerAI on the transaction.
Learn More
News Articles
Wilson Sonsini Practices, Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Chambers USA Guide
The 2026 Chambers USA guide has recognized Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as a leading law firm in 44 geography-specific practice categories and named 87 Wilson Sonsini attorneys among the best in their fields. This year, the firm received four new practice area rankings, including in the nationwide National Security and Capital Markets: Convertible Debt categories, and three improved practice area rankings.
Learn More
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Recent Events
Affiliated Programs
The L Suite FundGC Roundtable Dinner
In collaboration with The L Suite, Wilson Sonsini will bring General Counsels and Chief Legal Officers at venture and private equity funds together for the FundGC Roundtable Dinner. Deborah Carrillo, General Counsel and Partner at Menlo Ventures, will welcome the guests.
Learn More
Speaking Engagements
Crypto/NFT/Web3 Updates: Regulations, Taxation and Industry Trends
Wilson Sonsini partners Yokum Taku, Neel Maitra, and Jonathan Chan will serve as panelists, alongside the founders of Andersen, Marfire, and VC Partners, to discuss recent developments in regulations, enforcement, and other industry trends in crypto/NFT/Web3.
Learn More
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