WSGives

On Wednesday, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s Palo Alto office celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a festive luncheon in our courtyard. Employees enjoyed live music performed by local mariachi group, Mariachi San Carlos, while savoring fresh churros from Churros El Guero and tacos from our 650 Café taco bar. The celebration also featured a colorful candy station filled with a variety of popular Mexican sweets. Well over 150 employees attended the festivities, along with special guests including retired partner Harry Bremond, who recently turned 91 years young!

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s Bay Area offices collaborated with Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF) to host a virtual small business clinic organized by Legal Services for Entrepreneurs, a program of LCCRSF. Team Wilson Sonsini included Roy Argand, Taylor Arterburn, Davelyn Couch Bulovas, Ariel Friedman, Andrew K., Varun Lella, Esther Lim, Victor MacDiarmid, Ethan L. Miller, Kimberly Parry, and Kevin Roesser. Additionally, Irina Lerner Mellinger from Box volunteered. In total, the teams assisted nine small businesses during the clinic. LCCRSF’s mission is to protect and advance the rights of people of color, immigrants, and low-income communities through legal help and advocacy. We are grateful for our partnership with LCCRSF and appreciate all the volunteers who contributed to the success of the clinic.

Last week, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati was named a 2025 Beacon of Justice Awardee by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA). The firm was honored for its efforts in advancing access to justice for families and communities. Pro Bono Partner Luke Liss commented, “Wilson Sonsini is honored to receive the Beacon of Justice Award for the fifth consecutive year. We are grateful for all the good works of NLADA and our fellow awardees, as well as the special community and spirit for advocacy at this great firm.”

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s Bay Area offices collaborated with Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF) to host a virtual small business clinic organized by Legal Services for Entrepreneurs, a program of LCCRSF. Team Wilson Sonsini included Roy Argand, Taylor Arterburn, Davelyn Couch Bulovas, Ariel Friedman, Andrew K., Varun Lella, Esther Lim, Victor MacDiarmid, Ethan L. Miller, Kimberly Parry, and Kevin Roesser. Additionally, Irina Lerner Mellinger from Box volunteered. In total, the teams assisted nine small businesses during the clinic. LCCRSF’s mission is to protect and advance the rights of people of color, immigrants, and low-income communities through legal help and advocacy. We are grateful for our partnership with LCCRSF and appreciate all the volunteers who contributed to the success of the clinic.

We are proud to share that a dedicated team of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati colleagues recently supported the organization and delivery of the first-ever course on intellectual property for start-ups in Africa, in collaboration with SPARK Africa, an organization affiliated with the African Institute of Biomedical Science & Technology in Zimbabwe and the Stanford SPARK program. SPARK Africa’s mission is to empower young African entrepreneurs and leaders by providing access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities that drive sustainable development and innovation across the continent.   This intensive academic program introduced participants to critical frameworks in intellectual property, technology transfer, and entrepreneurial growth, all tailored to Africa’s dynamic innovation ecosystem. To ensure continued impact, the course was fully recorded and will remain accessible to future cohorts, helping to equip young African scientists and entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to protect and commercialize their ideas.

This past weekend, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s San Diego and Palo Alto offices participated in California Coastal Commission’s Clean-Up Day! Employees from the San Diego office and their families spent the morning collecting trash at the Imperial and Windansea beaches. Team San Diego included Genie Adamson, Erin Alcantara, Celine Bonnefous, Ingo Hardt, and Kate Nelson. Another group of employees from the Palo Alto office collected multiple bags of litter at Cooley Landing Park. Team Palo Alto included Nate Lees and Morgan C., who partnered up with other volunteers from Grassroots Ecology. The California Coastal Commission seeks to protect and enhance California’s coast and ocean for present and future generations. Each year, tens of thousands of Californians participate in the clean-up, removing thousands of pounds of trash and recyclables. 

Last week, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati welcomed our Class of 2025 first-year associates by hosting two impactful community service activities! The first project, a collaboration with Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley, gave teams the opportunity to participate in Habitat’s Team Playhouse Build Project. Volunteers built, designed, and decorated three children’s playhouses, which will be donated to local military and first responder families. Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley builds and renovates affordable homes and supports families in achieving sustainable homeownership. For the second project, in collaboration with The Painted Turtle, volunteers created fleece blankets that campers will be able to bring home with them after camp ends. The Painted Turtle provides innovative, camp-based programs for children with serious medical conditions. A big thank you to everyone who volunteered, and a warm welcome to our new fall associates!

On September 9, a few of our Community Impact team members joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s Salt Lake City office for its 2025 WSGives celebration. During the event, Pro Bono Partner Luke Liss and Head of Community Impact Lia Cartagena presented the awards and shared accomplishments on behalf of each recipient. Former Utah Supreme Court Justice and Wilson Sonsini partner Deno Himonas also spoke, highlighting the impressive work the Salt Lake City office has achieved since its opening.   The Salt Lake City award recipients were:  John Wilson Award: Deno Himonas and Tamara Lemmon. The John Wilson Award honors attorneys who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to the firm’s pro bono clients and handled significant responsibility on pro bono matters. Community Impact Award: Kevin Heiner and Cate Vaden. The Community Impact Award recognizes attorneys and staff who have made significant contributions to the firm’s community impact program. Congratulations to all of our Salt Lake City honorees!