Karen Deschaine, Partner, Wilson Sonsini

Karen Deschaine is a corporate partner in the San Diego office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where she represents clients in the life sciences sector, primarily in the biotechnology and therapeutics space. Over the course of 16-plus years, Karen has developed a sophisticated company-building corporate life sciences practice. She has handled private financings, public offerings, corporate governance matters, commercial transactions, strategic transactions, securities matters, and the general representation of public and private companies. Karen has successfully represented clients—which range from start-ups to public companies—throughout their life cycles, from formation to exit.

After graduating from law school in 2007, Karen joined Cooley LLP, where she was named a partner in 2016. Before law school, Karen served as a captain in the U.S. Army and commanded two companies. While at West Point, she was a member of the sport parachute team. As such, she jumped the game ball into numerous Army football games and was named the Overall Novice Champion at the 1994 National Collegiate Skydiving Championships.