Gene Rhough

Gene Rhough

Startups · Contracts · Corporate · M&A · IP & SaaS

San Jose
California
Licensed in
CA, DC, Patent Bar, Privacy Certification
Harvard Law School

"Gene is so great. I will be having him as my legal rep moving forward without hesitation"

5.0 5
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines
out of 23 reviews
About
I help founders and business owners set up core contracts, deal documents, and ownership terms so they can form companies, close business sales, bring in partners, and launch products without expensive surprises later.

I focus on LLC and corporation formations and operating/shareholder agreements, business sales, founder and partner arrangements (including buyouts and separations), commercial contracts (NDAs, MSAs, privacy policies), and IP/SaaS ownership and licensing tied to those deals.

Clients describe me as “the antidote to Big Law inefficiency,” “a legal sniper,” and say I’ve “potentially saved hundreds of thousands” by catching gaps
… read more other lawyers missed.

I do all my own work, explain options in plain English, and give clear scope and hour ranges before I start. Harvard Law (cum laude), MIT, former Wilson Sonsini attorney, and GC/VP Legal for media and tech companies and venture‑backed startups, with a 5.0 rating and repeat clients on this platform.
9
Repeat
clients
54
Projects on
upcounsel
30
Years
experience
Less than 1 day
Response Time
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Representative Clients

Practice Areas

Client Reviews

5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines
out of 23 reviews
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

"Gene is fantastic. He makes a commitment to clients that he will charge X amount of billable hours on a job and then puts in the work required to satisfy the client. Unlike any other lawyer I've ever worked with, he charged me LESS money than he could have and didn't stop until the job was done. I will be using Gene again and again. I couldn't be more pleased with the experience."

Business Consulting Agreement
Posted on Oct 14, 2020
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

"Gene is an amazing human being! I had the pleasure to work with him on a document that needed a deep understanding of a tricky investor relationship. With his guidance, I was confident I was making the best choice to address the issue."

Draft Release of Liability
Posted on Oct 9, 2020
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

"Gene performed a excellent job drafting terms for my company, great communication and fast delivery."

Draft Terms of Service
Posted on Oct 7, 2020
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

"We were confronted with a big book of onerous information security commitments at a very late stage in the sales process for b2b SaaS services. Gene made it a point to understand Google's real issues and to use that to substantially simplify and surgically revise a problematic barrier to something we could both live with, close the deal and move on to a partnership."

Data Privacy & Security Agreement with Google
Non-UpCounsel Client
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

"Gene negotiated complex, global content rights with Korea's largest entertainment company while we were a small scrappy startup. He got us what we needed, on time, on budget, and maintained an excellent business relationship throughout some tough negotiations. I would definitely use Gene again for deals where I needed a confident advocate by my side."

Copyright Catalog License Negotiation
Non-UpCounsel Client

Work History

Legal Laboratories

Attorney

Mar 2016 - Present

.

Mar 2016 - Present

Sony

VP, Global Digital Business, Business & Legal Affairs

Apr 2014 - Mar 2016

.

Apr 2014 - Mar 2016

News Corp.

GC & SVP Business Development

Mar 2010 - Mar 2014

.

Mar 2010 - Mar 2014

Time Warner / Viacom

VP, Global Digital & New Media

Jan 2008 - Feb 2010

Test

Jan 2008 - Feb 2010

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