About Mark A.
Mark A. Leahy trained first as an engineer and then as a lawyer. He earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University in 1983. Six years later he completed both a J.D. and an M.B.A. at the University of Chicago, finishing both programs in 1989. Those credentials frame the rest of his career.
After completing his graduate degrees, Leahy moved into private practice and established a long-term association with Fenwick & West LLP. He is admitted to practice in California. Over the years he has worked on matters that sit at the intersection of technology, business and law, bringing together technical familiarity and business judgment.
Leahy’s engineering background informs how he evaluates technical claims and product issues. His business training contributes to structuring transactions and assessing commercial risk. The combination is evident in how he approaches factual and contractual analysis. He tends to break problems into their technical elements before turning to legal strategy.
Colleagues describe his work as methodical and detail-oriented. He is known for parsing complex documents and for attention to evidentiary threads that can matter in negotiation or litigation. He has represented corporate clients in a range of matters at Fenwick & West LLP, counseling on contractual disputes, regulatory questions and transactional concerns when they arise.
Outside courtrooms and conference rooms, Leahy has balanced practice responsibilities with practical problem solving that traces back to his engineering training. He has remained active at a firm that specializes in serving technology-driven companies. He currently practices at Fenwick & West LLP and handles legal matters arising in California.
