Hi Andrew, very nice to meet you. So, what’s your story so far? How’s your career brought you to Jayaram?
Hi! I’m from Atlanta originally and currently live in NYC (via Germany and Boston). After spending the bulk of my career in big law representing venture capital and other private investment funds in financings and other corporate transactions, I made the jump to the boutique world and Jayaram. The venture capital/emerging companies’ practice is, to me, the most interesting and fun space in the corporate law ecosystem – it’s where the most innovative and talented clients can be found. I had long been looking for a firm that reflected the spirit of that work, and I found it in Jayaram.
In just a few sentences, give us an idea of how your typical working day takes shape (even if most days aren’t typical!).
I usually start the day responding to emails and mapping out the work that needs to get done for my clients that day. From there it’s just a matter of plugging away, addressing new items and issues that come up throughout the day and conferring with my colleagues as we work together on various matters. I take breaks to make coffee frequently and try to make it out of my apartment for a few minutes at some point to get some air and recharge my brain.
What’s hot in investment and funds right now and how might it affect the kind of clients you advise?
The increasing shift away from San Francisco and Silicon Valley as the center of gravity for new tech companies and VC investments, which is being accelerated by the remote-work culture that COVID ushered in. I represent startups that are broadly geographically distributed, and the decentralization of the VC/startup world away from the Bay Area will be a boon for them as they work to attract talent and investment.
What’s the single most important aspect of your work?
Client service. At the end of the day, being a helpful advisor to clients and providing innovative, efficient legal representation to help them achieve their business goals is the point of being a corporate attorney.
Any investments you wished you’d advised yourself to make?
Not really – I mean, who doesn’t wish they’d made certain early investments in companies that went on to be really successful? But I’m an attorney not an investor – picking winners isn’t really what excites or motivates me. I much prefer helping clients get in shape on the legal side so that they are primed to be winners on the business side.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up – and why?
I didn’t really know, I don’t think – that’s probably why I ended up going to law school! I was one of those kids that wanted to be a million different things. I think I’ve always been more focused on having a career where I could work with smart people to do challenging things, so this is the right profession for me.
What’s been your most marvelous mistake in life – one which has driven you onto better things?
When I went to college, I chose a school that was more expensive than my family could really afford, and I ended up having to drop out of college for a couple of years. It’s not something any kid should have to go through, but the experience of building back after that setback was invaluable to getting me to where I am in life, and I’m not sure I’d be as resilient, empathetic or confident in myself if I hadn’t gone through it.
What do your weekends look like?
On the weekends, I mostly like to chill, to be honest! COVID has forced me to be more of a homebody, of course, and I spend a lot of time on the weekends on various home and crafty projects. When it’s warm out, I love to bike around NYC for hours and take in the city.
We hear you like art. So, draw us a horse.
