The L Suite: 2026 Senior VCGC Spring Forum
Dec
 
31
, 
2025

12 pm

Welcome and Introductions

Welcome and Introductions

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Welcome and Introductions

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12 pm

Welcome and Introductions

Welcome and Introductions

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12 pm

Welcome and Introductions

Welcome and Introductions

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Short speaker biography. 

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Short speaker biography. 

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Starting at 
4:00pm
 on the 10th and ending at 
8:30pm
 on the 
24th
The L Suite: 2026 Senior VCGC Spring Forum
March 
18
 – 
March 
20
, 
2026



The 2026 Senior VCGC Spring Forum brings together a small, invite-only group of CLOs and General Counsels from traditional early and growth-stage venture funds for a thoughtful and substantive program in Sonoma. Over two days, attendees will reconnect with peers, compare perspectives on the evolving venture environment, and step back from day-to-day execution to reflect on leadership, risk, and long-term strategy.


The Forum is structured to create space for deeper conversation. Programming will emphasize discussion and exchange, giving participants time to examine the questions facing fund legal leaders today and to explore emerging developments and practical challenges across the venture ecosystem.


The format supports open dialogue, practical insight sharing, and meaningful peer connection throughout the program.

The L Suite: 2026 Senior VCGC Spring Forum
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Registration for this event is currently closed - If you have questions about the event please reach out to kiana@lsuite.co.

Visit www.thesuite.com for more information about The Suite & The L Suite communities.



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Location

MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa
29 E MacArthur Street
Sonoma, CA 95476

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Co-Chairs

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Melissa Danforth

General Counsel

Bain Capital Life Sciences

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Jesse King

General Counsel

Kleiner Perkins

Co-Chairs

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Melissa Danforth

General Counsel

Bain Capital Life Sciences

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Jesse King 

General Counsel

Kleiner Perkins

Steering Committee

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Dave Armstrong 

General Counsel

Foundation Capital

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Jason Doren

General Counsel

ARCH Venture Partners

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Cindy McAdam

General Counsel

Ribbit Capital

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Neil Pai

General Counsel

Founders Fund

Speakers 

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Sarah Axtell

Partner

Latham & Watkins

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Lauren Crockett

General Counsel & CCO
Polaris

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Michelle Fernandes

General Counsel
Index Ventures 

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Steve Franklin

Partner
Gunderson Dettmer

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Shane Goudey

Partner

 Sidley Austin

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Andy Hill

General Counsel
 A16z 

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An-Yen Hu

Operating Partner & General Counsel
Benchmark

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Danielle Naftulin

Partner
Wilson Sonsini

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Jon Novotny

Partner

Goodwin

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David Peinsipp

Partner
Cooley

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Libby Hadzima Perkins

General Counsel
Signal Fire

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Matthew Tolve

Managing Partner & General Counsel
Altimeter

 

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Dave Armstrong 

General Counsel

Foundation Capital

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Jason Doren

General Counsel

ARCH Venture Partners

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Cindy McAdam

General Counsel

Ribbit Capital

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Neil Pai

General Counsel

Founders Fund

Speakers

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Adam Frankel

General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Chime

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Ashish Walia

Co-Founder

Lawtrades

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Joan Aristei

Chief Legal & Compliance Officer

Dave

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Kate Layton

Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary

Oportun

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Katelyn Canning

Director and Head of Legal

Ocrolus

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Marina Gracias

General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Varo Money

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Meredith Turner

General Counsel

Column

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Michelle Rogers

Partner & Chair of Financial Services Enforcement & Regulatory Group
Cooley

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Peter Wei

Head of Legal

Octaura

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Piret Loone

General Counsel

Altruist

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Rezwan Pavri

Partner, Co-Lead, Capital Markets

Wilson Sonsini

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Rob Hale

General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
SmartBiz Loans

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Robert Gonzalez

General Counsel

Mercury

Speakers 

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Dave Armstrong

Partner, General Counsel

Foundation Capital

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Jason Doren

General Counsel

ARCH Venture Partners

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Cindy McAdam

General Counsel

Ribbit Capital

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Neil Pai

General Counsel

Founders Fund

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Lizette Perez-Deisboeck

General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer

Battery Ventures

Wednesday, March 18

5:00 pm

Welcome Reception

7:00 pm

Dinner on Own & Free Time

 

Thursday, March 19

7:30 am

Networking Breakfast

Breakfast will be available until 8:50 am

9:00 am

Opening Remarks

 

9:15 am

Mainstage 1: Modern Fundraising: Inside Today’s LP Demands

Topic to be announced

10:10 am

Mainstage 2: From Private to Public: A Fund View of Readiness


Topic to be announced

11:05 am

Small Group Discussions | Round 1


12:00 pm

Networking Lunch

Topic to be announced

1:05 pm

Small Group Discussions | Round 2

Foster a new connection or further an old one in a series of curated networking based on your role, industry, and more.

2:05 pm

Mainstage 3: When “Custom” Becomes Market: Financing Terms to Watch

Interactive Programming to be announced

3:00 pm

Activities

Welcome and Introductions

5:00 pm

Free Time

Sip on a cocktail or mocktail with your peers as the sun sets over the Sonoma mountains

5:45 pm

GC-Only Session


6:45 pm

Reception

Welcome and Introductions

7:30 pm

Small Group Dinners

Welcome and Introductions

9:00 pm

Fireside Drinks

Welcome and Introductions

Friday, March 20 

7:00 am

Networking Breakfast

9:00 am

Farewell & Departure



*Agenda is tentative and subject to change

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Accommodation


The 2026 Senior VCGC Spring Forum will take place at the MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa in Sonoma, CA

We have negotiated a discounted nightly rate of $429 USD + tax. A variety of room types are available, so we recommend securing your preferred option as early as possible.


The room block will close on Thursday, March 6th 2026 or when sold out, whichever happens first. Availability of rooms is limited, so we recommend securing your spot as soon as possible. 


Your room block link and next steps will be sent to you in a few weeks along with your attendee survey. 


Accommodation


The 2026 Senior VCGC Spring Forum will take place at the MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa in Sonoma, CA

We have negotiated a discounted nightly rate of $429 USD + tax. A variety of room types are available, so we recommend securing your preferred option as early as possible.


The room block will close on Thursday, March 6th 2026 or when sold out, whichever happens first. Availability of rooms is limited, so we recommend securing your spot as soon as possible. 


Your room block link and next steps will be sent to you in a few weeks along with your attendee survey. 


Travel


Getting to and from MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa

 

Recommendations to and from the hotel - ground transportation

 

Major airports surrounding Sonoma, CA:


- Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS) - 29.7 miles to MacArthur Place

- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - 55.7 miles to MacArthur Place

- Oakland International Airport (OAK) - 56.2 miles to MacArthur Place

- Sacramento International Airport (SMF) - 71.5 miles to MacArthur Place

 

Recommendations to and from the hotel - ground transportation 


From major cities to the hotel:

- Ride share services

- For pre-booked/private transport, contact the hotel concierge at (707) 938-2929

- Rental cars are a great option 


From the hotel on departure day: 

- Pre-book ride share services

- For pre-booked/private transport, contact the hotel concierge at (707) 938-2929

- Rental cars are a great option 


Sonoma is remote. Ride share services availability will not be guaranteed for travel back to the airport or your final destination on the last day of this Forum. 

 

Please note: Starting May 7, 2025, you'll need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another acceptable form of identification (such as valid passport) to board domestic flights.

 


STS

SFO

OAK

SMF

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CLE Information


We expect sessions at this Offsiite to be eligible for CLE credit. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules. This course is appropriate for experienced attorneys only. The L Suite has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board and the State Bar of California as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education. Additionally, we will seek CLE accreditation in IL, WA, FL, TX, PA, CO, GA, and any of the other 50 states upon specific request from an attendee.

Thank You to our Ecosystem Partner:

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Brought to you by:

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FAQs

Who is this Forum for?

This Forum is by invitation only and designed for full-time, active CLOs, General Counsels, and FundGC members at traditional early and growth-stage venture funds. Participation is limited to a select group of senior legal executives, and eligibility is based on our most recent records. If your role or company changes and no longer meets these criteria, we may need to adjust your participation.

What are my next steps to join this Forum?

This Forum is invitation-only and you will be tapped with an invite from our Co-Chairs or The L Suite.

I have received an invite to the Forum, am I guaranteed a spot?

An invitation does not guarantee you a spot at the Forum. We suggest you register as soon as possible to secure your place. As spots are limited, please only register if you intend to attend the full programming. 

What time should I be at the hotel?

We would love for you to join us for our opening reception at the MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa at 5:00 pm.

What time should I plan on leaving the hotel?

Official programming and breakfast will conclude no later than 11:00 am on Friday, March 20.

Can I arrive earlier or stay later at the hotel?

YES! We have secured our heavily discounted rates at the MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa for one day pre- and two days post- this Forum, and we'd love to see our members take advantage of this discount. See hotel information in your registration confirmation email for how to book extra nights.

 

I've RSVP'd what is next?

We can't wait to host you onsite! Please follow the steps in your registration confirmation email.

How do I get to and from the hotel?

Sonoma is a remote location and whilst ride share services are abundant from major cities and major airports, they are less common and unreliable when ordering them from Sonoma or regional airports. For peace of mind, we recommend you contact the hotel concierge team at (707) 938-2929 to book a secured private transport, especially for traveling to an airport on your departure date.

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The gold standard of peer groups

Called “the gold standard for legal peer groups” and “one of the best professional growth investments an in-house legal professional can make,” The L Suite is an invitation-only community for in-house legal executives. Over 2,000 members have access to 300+ world-class events per year, a robust online platform where leaders ask and answer pressing questions and share exclusive resources, and industry- and location-based salary survey data.

LEARN MORE
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The gold standard of peer groups

Called “the gold standard of legal peer groups” and “one of the best professional growth investments an in-house attorney can make,” The L Suite is an invitation-only community for in-house legal executives. Over 2,000 members have access to 300+ world-class events per year, a robust online platform where leaders ask and answer pressing questions and share exclusive resources, and industry- and location-based salary survey data.

LEARN MORE
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