Cynthia Clarfield Hess
Partner
Corporate
Cynthia Clarfield
Hess
Cynthia Clarfield
Hess
Partner
Corporate
Recognized as a leader in tech law for corporate and venture capital matters, Cindy invests in long-term relationships with startup founders and investors.
Cindy counsels some of the most innovative companies in the mobile, SaaS, social media and internet spaces through critical phases of their lifecycle—from formation and launch, through key milestones, to eventual exit. She represents companies and underwriters in transactions, including complex financings, mergers and acquisitions and public offerings. Cindy serves as co-chair of Fenwick’s startup and venture capital practice.
Recognized by TechCrunch as one of the top attorneys working with startup companies, Cindy builds results-oriented business connections that become long-term relationships with both investors and company executives. She is energized by working with public companies and startups—like Cisco Systems, Fitbit, GitLab, Nextdoor, Peloton and TripActions—that are revolutionizing the way everyday users of technology interact with the world.
- Represented 6Sense, a leading Account Based Orchestration Platform, powered by AI, in its $125M Series D and $40M Series C financing rounds
- Represented BigPanda, provider of an autonomous operations platform, in its $50M Series C financing
- Represented GitLab, a complete DevOps platform, in its $100M Series D and $268M Series E financing rounds
- Represented Nextdoor, a provider of private social networks centered around neighborhoods and communities, in several successive multimillion-dollar financing rounds and in its de-SPAC merger with Khosla Ventures Acquisition Co. II
- Represented Peloton, the world’s largest interactive fitness platform, in its $1.2B initial public offering
- Represented TripActions, an end-to-end travel management platform designed to offer complete corporate travel planning and support, in several successive multi-million-dollar financing rounds
- Represented 6Sense, a leading Account Based Orchestration Platform, powered by AI, in its $125M Series D and $40M Series C financing rounds
- Represented BigPanda, provider of an autonomous operations platform, in its $50M Series C financing
- Represented GitLab, a complete DevOps platform, in its $100M Series D and $268M Series E financing rounds
- Represented Nextdoor, a provider of private social networks centered around neighborhoods and communities, in several successive multimillion-dollar financing rounds and in its de-SPAC merger with Khosla Ventures Acquisition Co. II
- Represented Peloton, the world’s largest interactive fitness platform, in its $1.2B initial public offering
- Represented TripActions, an end-to-end travel management platform designed to offer complete corporate travel planning and support, in several successive multi-million-dollar financing rounds
- 6Sense
- American Express
- AutoFi
- BigPanda
- Cisco Systems
- Doctor On Demand
- Fitbit
- GitLab
- GoPro
- Hint
- Houseparty
- JibJab
- Lovevery
- Madison Reed
- Medigate
- Molekule
- Navan
- Nextdoor
- Peloton
- Prezi
- Primary Kids
- Remarkable Foods
- SendBird
- SentinelOne
- Tophatter
- 6Sense
- American Express
- AutoFi
- BigPanda
- Cisco Systems
- Doctor On Demand
- Fitbit
- GitLab
- GoPro
- Hint
- Houseparty
- JibJab
- Lovevery
- Madison Reed
- Medigate
- Molekule
- Navan
- Nextdoor
- Peloton
- Prezi
- Primary Kids
- Remarkable Foods
- SendBird
- SentinelOne
- Tophatter
“Cindy is very experienced. She is very strong, very smart and a great communicator.”
Chambers USA, 2022
“Cindy is very experienced. She is very strong, very smart and a great communicator.”
Chambers USA, 2022
Recognition Recognition Recognition
Recognition Recognition Recognition
Chambers USA
2016 - 2023
Regularly ranks Cindy among the nation's leading lawyers for startups and emerging companies work (2016 – 2023), as well as in California for venture capital work (2018 – 2023)
TechCrunch
2019
Honored Cindy as the first attorney to be featured on its inaugural list of top startup lawyers.
The Legal 500
2019 - 2023
Highlighted Cindy as a "Hall of Fame" for venture capital and emerging companies.
U.S. News - Best Lawyers
2015 - 2021
Recognized Cindy as among The Best Lawyers in America for corporate and M&A law.
Lawdragon
2024
Recognized Cindy as one of the 500 Leading Dealmakers in America.
Cindy's work has brought her recognition from legal and business publications:
- The Recorder named Cindy a Woman Leader in Tech Law (2013 – 2016), and named her one of Silicon Valley’s top 10 most trusted corporate counselors in its Trusted Advisors list (2016)
- Silicon Valley Business Journal recognized Cindy on its Silicon Valley Women of Influence list (2016)
- Daily Journal named Cindy among California’s Top Women Lawyers (2016)
- Euromoney Legal Media Group recognized Cindy with the Women in Business Law Award for Best in Technology (2016)
Chambers USA
2016 - 2023
Regularly ranks Cindy among the nation's leading lawyers for startups and emerging companies work (2016 – 2023), as well as in California for venture capital work (2018 – 2023)
TechCrunch
2019
Honored Cindy as the first attorney to be featured on its inaugural list of top startup lawyers.
The Legal 500
2019 - 2023
Highlighted Cindy as a "Hall of Fame" for venture capital and emerging companies.
U.S. News - Best Lawyers
2015 - 2021
Recognized Cindy as among The Best Lawyers in America for corporate and M&A law.
Lawdragon
2024
Recognized Cindy as one of the 500 Leading Dealmakers in America.