Key Takeaways
- • DLA Piper has elevated Abrar Hussain to partner in its Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice in Palo Alto, expanding the firm's capabilities in life sciences, venture capital, and technology sectors.
- • Hussain brings 25+ years of experience across investment funds, biotech, and financial services, including prior tenure as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Samsara BioCapital, which manages approximately $2.1 billion in assets under management with over 100 portfolio companies.
- • Hussain's expertise spans fund formation, LP negotiations, portfolio company operations, M&A, IPOs, licensing, and cross-border transactions—positioning him to advise both venture capital firms and emerging growth companies navigating complex strategic challenges.
- • The hire reflects DLA Piper's strategic investment in its West Coast Corporate practice, which has added seven partners over the past 18 months, signaling aggressive expansion in high-growth markets.
- • DLA Piper's Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice now comprises more than 200 lawyers serving emerging companies and venture capital firms across technology, healthcare, life sciences, and financial services sectors.
Summary
DLA Piper has appointed Abrar Hussain as a partner in its Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice based in Palo Alto, marking a significant addition to the firm's corporate capabilities. The move strengthens DLA Piper's positioning within the venture capital and life sciences investment ecosystem at a critical juncture for emerging growth companies navigating regulatory complexity and market volatility.
Hussain brings over 25 years of institutional investment and operational experience to the role. Prior to joining DLA Piper, he served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Samsara BioCapital, a hybrid public/private biotech investment firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in assets under management across a portfolio of more than 100 companies. His background encompasses fund formation, limited partnership negotiations, portfolio company support, complex mergers and acquisitions, IPO preparation, licensing agreements, and cross-border transactions—expertise directly aligned with the operational and compliance challenges facing institutional investors and emerging growth companies.
According to Andrew Gilbert, Global Co-Chair of DLA Piper's Corporate practice, the hire addresses a specific market demand: "In today's market, clients need counsel with sharp judgment, deep transactional experience, and a sophisticated understanding of the venture capital and life sciences ecosystem." Hussain's investor-side perspective is intended to enhance DLA Piper's ability to counsel both life sciences and technology clients on strategic execution and opportunity capture.
The addition of Hussain is part of a broader expansion strategy on the West Coast. Over the past 18 months, DLA Piper has added seven partners to its Corporate practice: Josh Seidenfeld, John Hutar, Frances Mosley, Brady Berg, Ken Funahashi, Sarah Chambless, and Michael Dorf. DLA Piper's Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice now comprises more than 200 lawyers providing strategic counsel to emerging companies and venture capital firms across technology, healthcare, life sciences, and financial services sectors.
Hussain brings over 25 years of institutional investment and operational experience to the role. Prior to joining DLA Piper, he served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Samsara BioCapital, a hybrid public/private biotech investment firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in assets under management across a portfolio of more than 100 companies. His background encompasses fund formation, limited partnership negotiations, portfolio company support, complex mergers and acquisitions, IPO preparation, licensing agreements, and cross-border transactions—expertise directly aligned with the operational and compliance challenges facing institutional investors and emerging growth companies.
According to Andrew Gilbert, Global Co-Chair of DLA Piper's Corporate practice, the hire addresses a specific market demand: "In today's market, clients need counsel with sharp judgment, deep transactional experience, and a sophisticated understanding of the venture capital and life sciences ecosystem." Hussain's investor-side perspective is intended to enhance DLA Piper's ability to counsel both life sciences and technology clients on strategic execution and opportunity capture.
The addition of Hussain is part of a broader expansion strategy on the West Coast. Over the past 18 months, DLA Piper has added seven partners to its Corporate practice: Josh Seidenfeld, John Hutar, Frances Mosley, Brady Berg, Ken Funahashi, Sarah Chambless, and Michael Dorf. DLA Piper's Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice now comprises more than 200 lawyers providing strategic counsel to emerging companies and venture capital firms across technology, healthcare, life sciences, and financial services sectors.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.