Phil Rothenberg Joins Wilson Sonsini as General Counsel in Residence

Seasoned Technology General Counsel and Former SEC Attorney Brings IPO, Securities, and Regulatory Experience to GCIR Program

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, today announced that Phil Rothenberg, a veteran general counsel with extensive experience in IPO preparation, securities matters, and regulatory compliance, has joined the firm’s General Counsel in Residence (GCIR) program.

“Phil understands the pressures general counsel face when guiding companies through pivotal moments, and he will be a valuable addition to our GCIR program,” said Wilson Sonsini partner Mark Baudler. “His rare combination of in-house strategic leadership, IPO readiness, securities experience, and corporate compliance insight will be a major asset to our clients and team.”

For more than two decades, Rothenberg has advised high-growth companies, led in-house legal teams, and provided counsel on federal securities laws.

Rothenberg most recently served as chief legal officer for Tensor Auto, a manufacturer of autonomous vehicles (AVs) powered by agentic AI technology. In that role, he led Tensor’s legal efforts, covering AV manufacturing, sales and service agreements, commercial partnerships, litigation, bespoke insurance issues, patents and trademarks, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and securities offerings.

Prior to Tensor Auto, Rothenberg was general counsel for Univers, a technology company that uses AI and IoT to solve energy challenges. He led Univers’ global legal team and his work spanned pre-IPO bridge loan financing, trademark and patent strategy, contract clause escalation reviews, and litigation.

Earlier in his career, Rothenberg held senior legal positions with Sonder Holdings and Tesla, and worked for the Division of Corporation Finance at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). At Sonder, he served as general counsel and secretary, building and leading a team of attorneys across North America and EMEA. He oversaw Sonder’s corporate inversion from Canada to the United States, several private securities offerings, SPAC merger, de-SPAC IPO and listing on Nasdaq, and co-led multiple litigation matters and ESG initiatives. At Tesla, Rothenberg managed numerous securities offerings and related matters, SEC filings, and legal operations in Asia. At the SEC, he served as a corporation finance attorney, where he reviewed public company filings and advised on federal securities law compliance.

Rothenberg served as an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught courses on IPOs and securities regulation to students in the school’s securities and financial regulation program.

Rothenberg began his legal career as an associate with Sullivan & Cromwell, advising clients in Tokyo and New York on securities as well as mergers and acquisitions transactions.

Rothenberg earned his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, his Master of International Business from the University of South Carolina, and his B.A. from the University of Virginia.

“I’m excited to join Wilson Sonsini’s GCIR program and work with an exceptional team of attorneys to advise clients in preparation for financings, public company reporting, and complex transactions,” said Rothenberg. “I understand the legal framework as well as the business realities – managing legal budgets, partnering with CFOs, engaging boards, and positioning companies for investors and the public markets.”

Launched in February 2025, Wilson Sonsini’s GCIR program provides clients short-term access to seasoned former general counsel and peers who successfully addressed similar challenges. By leveraging their firsthand experiences and shared insights, clients gain practical guidance on operational obstacles, avoid common pitfalls, and make more informed legal decisions. The program complements the firm’s Executive Advisory Program (EAP), which delivers tailored, long-term support to companies at all stages of growth, from start-ups to multinational corporations.

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini’s services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has more than 1,000 attorneys and 17 offices in 16 technology, business, and regulatory markets across the United States, Asia, and Europe. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.