People

  • Joanna Chen

    CBL Scholar Class of 2026

    Joanna Chen is a dual degree JD/MBA student at UC Law SF and UC Berkeley. Joanna was a Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholar at UC Berkeley, where she double majored in Political Science and Media Studies. Prior to law school, Joanna worked in investment banking, primarily in debt capital markets and technology M&A. She has also worked with startups and startup founders in a variety of capacities–finance,
    Read more »

  • Nathan Lessa

    Student Fellow Class of 2025

    Previous Experience:
    Adjutant, United States Marine Corps
    Manpower Officer, United States Marine Corps
    Data Analyst, LinkedIn
    Product Specialist, Apple Inc.
    Previous Education:
    B.A. International Relations, University of California, Davis
    Read more »

  • Heidi Walas

    Class of 2007. Partner, Gunderson Dettmer.

    Heidi counsels emerging growth companies and investors on a broad range of transactional matters, from venture capital financings to mergers and acquisitions, technology transfers and general business matters. In her role as corporate lawyer, she acts as outside general counsel for startups, providing legal, business and strategic advice throughout their lifecycle, including startup structure formation,
    Read more »

  • Sai Sumana Kaluvai

    CBL Scholar Class of 2025

    Sumana Kaluvai (Hometown: Roseville, CA) is a 3L at UC Law SF. She studied Bioengineering with a Tech Management focus at UCLA. She worked in pharmaceutical consulting at IQVIA prior to coming to law school.
    She interned at Quinn Emanuel (with a client secondment at Ripple) during her 1L summer, returned as a diversity fellow at Quinn her 2L summer and will be joining Quinn’s SF office after graduation.
    Read more »

  • Ricardo Parada

    CBL Scholar Class of 2025

    Ricardo Parada is a 3L at UC Law San Francisco. As a social justice concentrator, he is particularly interested in the intersection of transactional law and community economic development.

    Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ricardo earned his bachelor’s degree in politics with a minor in Latino/Latin American Studies from Occidental College in Los Angeles,
    Read more »

  • Dilani Logan

    CBL Scholar Class of 2025

    Dilani Logan is a 3L student at UC Law SF and a proud first-generation college graduate. She was born and raised in Mississauga, Canada and studied Medical Science and Spanish at the University of Western Ontario before obtaining her master’s degree in Global Health from Duke University. Prior to law school, Dilani worked as a researcher at the American Institutes for Research and interned with organizations including the World Health Organization,
    Read more »

  • Sharareh Zerang

    CBL Scholar Class of 2024

    Sheila Zerang is currently an associate in the Los Angeles office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.
    Read more »

  • Candace Kelly

    Class of 1997. General Counsel, Stellar Development Foundation.

    Candace Kelly is the Chief Legal Officer of the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of Stellar, an open-source blockchain network that connects the world’s financial infrastructure. In addition to being responsible for all of SDF’s legal affairs, she also leads the policy team that focuses on bridging the gap between the public and private sectors,
    Read more »

  • Daniel Lopez

    Class of 2010. Partner, Willkie Farr.

    Daniel Lopez is a partner in Willkie’s Corporate & Financial Services Department and Private Equity Practice Group. He is based in the Firm’s San Francisco office. Danny advises private equity funds and their portfolio companies across the tech and life sciences sectors on various strategic transactions, including leveraged buyouts, dispositions, carveouts, debt financings,
    Read more »

  • Mitchell Carlson

    Student Fellow Class of 2023

    Previous Experience:
    Legal Assistant, Fisher & Phillips LLP
    Legal Practice Assistant / Paralegal Assistant, Perkins Coie LLP
    Legal Intern, Infinitum Legal Counsel
    Previous Education:
    B.A. Political Science, University of Puget Sound
    Read more »