Shanika Weerasundara, Attorney, Mba
Attorney at Law
Washington
WA
About
Areas of expertise include IP licensing, product development, Internet technologies, sourcing, vendor contracts, sales, consulting, software development, corporate transactions, channel agreements, distribution, and general counsel… read more services.
Located in Seattle, WA.
experience
Client Reviews
"“Shanika, you approached this complex issue for the CRM Mobile Express team with a variety of alternates along with the risk factors each of the options posed. You set clear expectations, and met the client’s business needs with a superior work product. Your work on this is much appreciated by the clients and by me. ” Sally Webster, Attorney, Microsoft"
"I had the pleasure of working with Shanika across multiple projects. My team handles a number of special projects - including solutions development, research and development with customer organizations, as well as special citizenship/philanthropic initiatives. Shanika has been our legal expert across a wide array of partnership opportunities - including multi-party agreements. She is always a pleasure to work with, and she is extremely professional. Her legal acumen has provided the necessary protections for our projects - and she also has developed a great understanding for our business goals. I look forward to maintaining this working relationship - as Shanika has proven to be a vital asset to our overall business plan!"
Work History
Teqlaa Corporation
CEO, Founding Attorney
Oct 2015 - Present
Corporate counsel for enterprises, international companies, and startups on their technology, licensing, and corporate legal transactions. Inspired by the collaborative energy of the Seattle technology business community, Shanika founded Teqlaa to meet the needs of tomorrow's technology driven business organizations looking for business savvy technology counsels with global experience.
Foundry Law Group
Legal Counsel
Jul 2014 - Oct 2015
Foundry is a team of business and IP attorneys offering entrepreneurs and high growth-stage companies a targeted approach to legal planning. We also serve non-profit clients and a small number of established corporations.
Startup Weekend Bellevue
Organizer
Jun 2014 - Oct 2014
Startup Weekend is a global movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. I held Chair - Keynote; Mentors; Judges. In addition, I also took on roles in media, press, sponsorships, and interviews with Whose Who in Start-ups. A valuable 54 hours with like-minded spirits. Proud to organize it with a great team.
http://www.up.co/communities/usa/bellevue/startup-weekend/3916
http://425business.com/bird-box-science-wins-first-bellevue-startup-weekend/
Seattle Angel's Conference
Angel Investor
Nov 2013 - Jun 2014
Angel Investor in SAC VI and several private investments. Due Diligence Lead.
Angel investing aligns with my "calling" to cause good, growth, and gain in the lives of entrepreneurs.
Check out my blog on Angel Investing:
An Angel Investor Reflects on a Pool of Seattle’s Startup Talent
http://foundrylawgroup.com/angel-investor-reflects-pool-seattles-startup-talent/
Ragen Swan, PLLC
Paralegal
Sep 2012 - Jun 2014
My exit window between the corporate world and stepping into the world of entrepreneurship. Being a consultant.
I provided hands-on business focused legal counseling to executives, engineering leads, contracts managers, and program managers on intellectual property and technology transactions. Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on agreements in a variety of contexts.
My contracting experience include negotiations for Microsoft with C-level executives of Fortune 500 companies, cloud service providers, large system integrators, public sector agencies (federal, state, and local governments), and industry leaders in financial, automotive, food processing, entertainment, aerospace, consulting, education, health care, and universities. The terms involved sensitive legal issues such as privacy, security, customer data, intellectual property, licensing, and legislative compliance (e.g., Procurement Integrity Act, UTSA, FOIA, FERPA, HIPAA, ITAR, EAR, etc.).
Deal types: Technical collaboration and cooperative research, custom non-disclosure, multi-party agreements, teaming agreements, vendor contracts, custom in-bound license agreements, product use rights, etc.
Licensing: Proprietary and open-source licensing.
ELAP, KIND and NLC
Pro Bono Attorney
Jun 2008 - Jun 2014
Pro-bono legal service is a great way to help others while being part of the corporate world.
Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) is a non-profit organization that provides high-quality, no-cost civil legal services to survivors of domestic violence and to low-income residents of East and Northeast King County.
Kids In Need of Defense (KIND) represents unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children who have not attorneys to represent them in their deportation proceedings.
KCBA Neighborhood Legal Clinics (NLC) offers free legal advice to King County and Washington State residents who might otherwise have no access to a lawyer. These clinics are accessible regardless of barriers such as income, education, language or disability.
Startup Weekend Kirkland (Maker's Edition)
Entrepreneur
Dec 2013 - Feb 2014
Our amazing team won the first prize out of 17+ contesting teams in electronics, mechanical, web, and mobile technologies. The most exciting team work I've done in a decade.
Our company is Fensens: Ready to rock 'n roll to remove the "oops!" in low speed vehicle maneuvering - check out; we competed in Global Startup Battle - Champion's track; and watch out for our Kickstarter campaign!
http://fensens.co/
http://blog.up.co/2014/12/01/fensens-wins-kirkland-startup-weekend-2014/
http://foundrylawgroup.com/startup-weekend-and-my-rollercoaster-ride/
Microsoft
Paralegal
Jun 2008 - Aug 2012
Microsoft is where I gained my domain expertise on the intersection of technology and law. Working at a very large law department is still an experience I never forget. One of the best places for a lawyer to learn the real world of developing and releasing software.
I advised Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM engineering teams on product development, licensing, and release of software and services. Yes, we shipped the game changing Dynamics AX 2012 and many more products and services.
It still feels amazing to be part of a product team and experience the ZBB in action - Ship it!
Issues: Intellectual property, licensing, privacy, security, interoperability, anti-trust, open-source, internet technologies, and regulatory compliance. Draft and negotiate a wide range of contracts and legal documents.
Provide legal training. Project Management. Process Improvement.
Deal Negotiations with F100 - F 500 companies
Negotiation Expertise
Jan 1997 - Dec 2008
Sample list of companies I have been privileged to negotiate win-win agreements with:
Accenture
Avanade
AT&T
BAE Systems
Baker & McKenzie
Bank of America
Boeing
CGI Technologies
Cisco Systems
Dell
Deloitte & Touché
EMC
ExxonMobil
Fidelity
Federal Reserve Bank
Fujitsu
General Dynamics
General Motors
General Electric
Hewlett-Packard
Honeywell
IBM
Johnson & Johnson
KPMG
Lockheed Martin
MCI
McKesson
Northrop Grumman
Novell
Price Waterhouse Coopers
Raytheon
Securian
Sony
Travelers
Toyota
United Parcel Service
Unisys
Walt Disney
Washington Mutual Bank; Snodgrass & Kearns PLLC
Contracts Attorney
Aug 2007 - Aug 2008
As a brand new attorney in Seattle, I learned the art of practicing law by working with great technology attorneys from these firms.
Draft, review, negotiate, and manage technology contracts for in-house legal department and law firm. Clients include global companies, brick-and-mortar business, and local and international BPO services.
Mikkelborg Broz Wells & Fryer, PLLC
Law Clerk
May 2004 - Jul 2007
Following the advice of Abraham Lincoln, I studied law under the guidance of the attorneys of this great Seattle law firm.
Rule 6 Law Clerkship on substantive and procedural aspects of practicing law for admission to the Washington Bar. Corporate law (formations, governance, compliance, financing, secured transactions, and general commercial matters) and litigation.
Lincoln "If you are resolutely determined to make a lawyer of yourself, the thing is more than half done already. It is but a small matter whether you read with any body or not. I did not read with any one. Get the books, and read and study them till, you understand them in their principal features; and that is the main thing."
Thank you Lincoln for the great advice.
Attachmate Corporation
Contracts Administrator
Jun 1998 - Oct 2003
My first job after graduate school and landing in this great tech city. I had the opportunity to learn tech and apply my legal and business skills while managing corporate governance in 20+ countries. I still remember "the world was in my office!"
Draft, review and negotiation of a variety of complex agreements for in-bound and out-bound licensing, technology acquisition, and IT services.
Lead anti-piracy efforts with the Business Software Alliance.
Liaison between the Board of Directors and General Counsel. Ran board meeting activities from start to finish.
Manage corporate compliance for world-wide affiliates and subsidiaries in over 20 countries. Found, screened, and engaged with outside counsel from 20+ countries from Brazil to Dubai to Hong-Kong.