Blue Ocean Global Technology Interviews Josh Seidenfeld | Corporate Strategic Advisor

Josh Seidenfeld serves as partner and chair of Northern California at DLA Piper, and previously was the global chair of Cooley’s Digital Health Group. A trusted advisor to founders, investors, and executives, Josh represents life sciences, healthcare, and technology companies from early-stage growth through IPOs and strategic exits. Since 2020, Josh has closed 300+ venture financings, spanning digital health, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and medical technology. Josh earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside, followed by an MBA from the Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business. He then completed his Juris Doctor in Business Law and Venture Capital at Santa Clara University School of Law. 

Blue Ocean: A Glimpse of Josh’s Professional Journey & Daily Path

For those who may not be familiar with you yet, how would you introduce yourself and the path that led you to your current role?

Josh Seidenfeld: I’ve always strived to be a strategic corporate adviser. Throughout my career, everything I’ve learned and advised on has enabled me to help drive impactful results. I appreciate the way my founders view the world. 

I strive to provide meaningful and actionable advice to founders and help them achieve their business objectives. My background in leadership and advisory services has enabled me to thrive across athletics, academics, and other professional pursuits. 

What does your typical day look like?

Josh Seidenfeld: Typically, I wake up in the morning and spend some time with my kids before they head out to school. Weekdays can look hectic, starting with early morning conference calls followed by negotiations and board meetings. My day involves cultivating new client relationships, advancing ongoing projects, and finalizing deals. Post work, I coach my daughter’s basketball team. It brings me great joy. 

What is one trend from your industry that excites you?

Josh Seidenfeld: In recent times, the dynamic market shift has provided me with a real opportunity to demonstrate legal expertise. Companies are moving fast with the adoption of AI and newer technologies, which have largely reshaped the hiring process. This seismic shift is influencing the way new companies are being built. They can no longer rely on the standard, cookie-cutter venture game that may have worked for the last two decades. While the market may change again as demands evolve, without creativity and evaluating the underlying needs, businesses are compromised. I enjoy the challenge of reinventing and improving what’s been tried and true in the past.

Blue Ocean: Legal Perspective & Industry Insights

In a highly competitive legal landscape, what do you believe sets you apart in how you advise and support clients?

Josh Seidenfeld: I try to ensure that I’m providing clients with an accurate risk analysis that supports their business decisions within the framework of the market. I like to follow a creative approach within the confines of what is considered to be an atypical structure. For instance, I believe there is no need to use a sledgehammer when you can use a more precise tool. This implies that we can achieve significant outcomes without resorting to forceful methods to address a problem. In my experience, this kind of targeted approach leads to positive results for my clients.

What value or perspective do clients gain when working with you that goes beyond technical legal advice?

Josh Seidenfeld: I’m proactive and highly responsive with my clients. I don’t caveat my answers and provide structured advice. I truly believe that people hire and pay me for my judgment, which means I have to be right and provide a comprehensive strategy.

This also applies to matters that don’t necessarily have a right answer until the future unfolds. People find value in my ability to analyze and forecast patterns while considering the stakeholders involved and determining the order of operations to achieve the desired outcome.

Creative problem-solving becomes an important part of ensuring that everything is within one standard deviation of the norm. These are perhaps the key drivers of what clients gain when they come to me. I’m not superficial with my clients, and we tend to know about each other’s families. In many instances, I work with them throughout their non-linear careers as company founders.

Is there a moment or milestone in your career that stands out as particularly meaningful?

Josh Seidenfeld: I’ve had a couple such moments in my career, but most of them either come from specific client engagements or during time with associates. I once worked with an associate in New York for six months, who later moved to Palo Alto to change career paths. A month after he left, I received a letter from him expressing the impact I had on his career and in building his confidence. I honestly did not realize this, as I considered it my obligation to guide someone willing to work hard and close deals. The moment was an impactful milestone for me and is one of the most rewarding things I get to do. I’ve always been very grateful for having this type of relationship with the people that I work with. Even on the client end, I am often asked questions about matters that are not legal in nature, as clients seek guidance on how these issues might affect them in their individual capacity. When I look back in hindsight, those are some of the most meaningful moments that I cherish.

What advice would you give your younger self and other young people aspiring to pursue law?

Josh Seidenfeld: To be frank, it’s hard, and there’s not a lot you can do to prepare daily if you want to be a corporate transactional lawyer. The academic side of things doesn’t really prepare an aspiring lawyer for transactional work. My advice is twofold: spend time getting to know people who hire and work with corporate lawyers and try to understand the perspective that they aim to achieve. I think that is meaningful because you get a glimpse of the nature of work and expectations of future clients. I would also urge all to find the right mentors. When you go to a law firm, the real question should be, “Are these people I want to have a relationship with?” For better or worse, you are going to spend longer days at the firm with these people for the majority of your career. The only way to make sure they are vested in your career is to be vested in their success; it’s a two-way street. I always tell people that the practice of law is not a job. There’s a reason it’s called practice, and it requires real dedication.

Blue Ocean: Personal Inspiration & Life Beyond Practice

What is something you are grateful for?

Josh Seidenfeld: I am grateful for my family. Particularly, I’m immensely grateful for my wife, who is the absolute cornerstone of my life and career. I make sure to often let her know that I wouldn’t be in the same place without her support. Having a partner and a solid homelife really provides some balance. It enables me to focus on my job, and I’m blessed to have her in my life.

What are your sources of inspiration?

Josh Seidenfeld: My sources of inspiration come from professional sports and the mindset of athletes who strive to succeed, bounce back from failure, and keep trying until they win. I think there are a lot of great lessons. There is no such thing as perfect, and it’s human to make mistakes. The real question is how you work through the challenges and dare to keep moving forward.

How do you disconnect from work and maintain balance outside the legal world?

Josh Seidenfeld: I don’t know if I’m the best at maintaining balance, but I do a few things to attempt it. I try to listen to my body and take a break if I get tired. I’ll go to bed early, or I’ll call it early, no matter what I’m doing. This way, I make sure that I stay recharged. If I feel like I need a longer break, I’ll go away for the weekend. Friday nights are a really big deal. It’s almost like a ritual where I’ll do basketball practice with my kids, we’ll watch a family movie, or spend quality time together in some way. If I can get a night like this where I get to disconnect and recharge, I usually feel pretty good the next day and ready for work. Being able to take smaller individual breaks allows me to focus on the other aspects of my life that drive me.

Was there a defining experience that shaped your perspective or reaffirmed your commitment to what you do?

Josh Seidenfeld: The biggest moment was during my fourth year as an associate when my wife and I took a trip. I had just finished running my first IPO. For the first time in my life, I really felt like I was a lawyer and that I was capable of doing this. It was a moment of truth and I found real confidence in myself. I decided that I’m definitely going to try to become a partner at the law firm, and that’s when I knew what I wanted to do with my career. It was invigorating to make that definitive choice because you go into a law firm and think, “I’ve got 10 years before I’m going to be a partner. Is that really something I’m going to do?” When I finally found the ability to make that call, it was extremely rewarding. This is an annual practice for me now. At the end of every year, I take a vacation with my family, sit down, and question myself: Am I happy with what I do? Do I find what I’m doing rewarding and engaging? This makes it an intentional decision and motivates me to keep improving.

Is there a guiding principle that reflects your approach to law, leadership, or life in general?

Josh Seidenfeld: Team first, always. I believe in the power of working together and want everyone to feel empowered and proud of what we do.