Meet Jana Buresova
The Woman Behind LaunchLaw.io
About Jana
Jana Buresova is a dynamic and client-focused counsel and strategic legal advisor providing practical legal advice to over 50 corporations for over 15 years.
She has been counseling emerging technology companies throughout their evolution from pre-seed to IPO.
Her expertise include transactional matters (inbound and outbound contracts), privacy, cybersecurity, employment, and corporate governance, financing matters, IPO readiness, international expansion and go to market strategy in over 19 countries.
Prior to establishing her practice in Silicon Valley, Jana worked for “Big Law” law firms in the US, United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic with a focus on international employment, corporate, and business law.
Jana’s zealous and devoted defense of her clients was recognized and she was requested to help with a case before the United Nations, the International Criminal Tribunal For Former Yugoslavia.
Experience with the Tech Industry
- Head of Legal and the first in-house counsel at HashiCorp, Inc., a technology company and now publicly traded company on the US stock market. Jana helped HashiCorp in the initial stages of growth, raising $100 million in venture funding (elevating HashiCorp to unicorn status), and led a global team supporting the global go to market strategy while minimizing exposure to risk and increasing revenue.
- Head of Legal and first in-house counsel at Sysdig Inc., a technology company recently securing a venture funding of $300 million and achieving the unicorn status. Jana led Sysdig’s international expansion, go to market strategy and helped with two rounds of venture funding totaling $160 million.
- Early employee and second in-house counsel of Anaplan Inc., a technology company and now a publicly traded company on the US stock market. Jana set up processes and standards for Anaplan’s contracts for sale, support and development of Anaplan’s technology partner programs, and procurement, including facilitating attainment of security and privacy certifications.
- In-house counsel for Fortune 500 technology enterprises such as Hewlett Packard Company, VMware, and Genentech.
How It All Began
Jana’s journey to become a successful lawyer and advisor has taken her across the globe, from the Czech Republic to South Africa and eventually to Silicon Valley, USA. After completing the rigorous International Baccalaureate Program, Jana earned academic scholarships to attend Charles University, Czechia to pursue JD and LLB at Cardiff University, UK.
She then practiced law at the “Big Law” law firms in London and Prague, such as Eversheds LLP, Allen & Overy LLP, and White & Case LLP. During a break between the law firms, she joined a defense team to litigate a case before the United Nation Organization, the International Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia. It was only once Jana moved to the USA and completed the International Business LL.M program at the University of San Francisco, her journey in tech began. She practiced law in Silicon Valley for the Fortune 500 enterprises, such as Genentech, Hewlett-Packard, and VMware.
In 2015, Jana geared her career toward startups and accepted the role of as a second counsel at Anaplan, Inc., a technology startup in its infancy. Within 4 years of her joining, the company successfully underwent an IPO.
Jana continues her path as the leading in-house counsel for several VC backed start-up, joining at their infancy and helping them grow to unicorns. But since then, she worked with over 30 VC backed startups as their outside counsel or advisor. Notable examples include HashiCorp, Inc., where Jana served as the Head of Legal and played a key role in the company’s attainment of unicorn status, which led to successful IPO. Jana also held the role of Head of Legal at Sysdig, Inc., a Series C tech startup that is currently valued at $2.3 billion with $390 million in funding. Additionally, Jana was the first legal advisor for BITRIA, Inc., a pre-seed blockchain startup that was later acquired by Gemini for $30 million. She also served as a General Counsel for Performio, a private equity-backed commission management startup.
Today, Jana runs her own legal practice in California, LaunchLaw.io, providing fractional General Counsel legal services, which allows her to provide the same business orientated and efficient legal support helping with revenue growth while remaining compliant, for more than one company at a time. Her extensive experience and impressive track record make her a valuable asset to any startup looking to succeed in the tech industry.
Education
University of San Francisco, School of Law, California, USA
LLM
- Finished in the top 5% of the graduating class;
- Focused on international business and transactional law, and negotiations;
- Received International Scholar Scholarship;
- Activities: Labor and Employment Law Clinic; International Law Legal Review; Moot Court.
Cardiff University, UK
LLB
- Focused on European Union, privacy, and European Union employment and immigration law;
- Received academic scholarship.
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
JD
- Finished in the top 2% of the graduating class;
- Received academic scholarship;
- Activities: Teacher Assistant for International Division;
- Teacher Assistant for EU Law Faculty.
Admissions to Practice Law
The State Bar of California
USA
- Member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, California;
- United States District Court Northern District of California;
- United States District Court Southern District of California;
- United States District Court Central District of California.
Czech Bar Association (Ceska Advokatni Komora)
CZECH REPUBLIC
