About Timothy Jacob
Timothy Jacob Harris is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1997. His license is currently in active status. Mr. Harris is a partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP, a full-service law firm located in Palo Alto, California. He serves as the managing partner of the firm's Palo Alto office and specializes in representing startup companies and venture capital investors in corporate and securities matters. His practice encompasses all stages of corporate development, including formation, financing, and exit strategies such as acquisitions or initial public offerings.
Mr. Harris earned his Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1997. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate education at Princeton University, receiving an A.B. in Computer Science in 1991. During his time at Northwestern, he was a member of the Order of the Coif and served as an Associate Editor of the Law Review. Before entering the legal profession, Mr. Harris designed, programmed, and implemented software systems for clients in the financial services industry, providing him with a strong foundation in technology and business.
Mr. Harris concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate law, focusing on startup companies and venture capital investments. He advises clients on venture capital financing, debt financing, equity incentive compensation, corporate governance, and technology development, including licensing, joint development, distribution, and other technology transfer matters. His practice encompasses all stages of corporate development, including formation, financing, and exit strategies such as acquisitions or initial public offerings. He represents clients in various technology sectors, including consumer and enterprise software, financial services technologies, wearable computing, semiconductor design, healthcare technologies, consumer retail, and transportation.
Throughout his career, Mr. Harris has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Clara, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal on multiple occasions. Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster, he worked as a senior consultant at Accenture from 1991 to 1994, providing management consulting services to clients in various industries. In 2015, he founded the firm's ScaleUp Speaker Series, an ongoing, ten-session series for entrepreneurs on the legal issues they will face over the lifetimes of their startups.
Mr. Harris is an active member of the California Lawyers Association and its Business Law Section. He has been recognized by Human Rights First as a Pro Bono Star for his work on behalf of at-risk Afghan allies in connection with Operation Allies Refuge. He is fluent in English and has a background in computer science, which he believes enhances his ability to advise clients on complex business and technology matters.
