Jesse Strauss

Experience

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  Your Fractional General Counsel/Strauss Law PLLC

  Founder

  Nov 2023 - Present

  Affordable Legal Services for Your Business. Always Predictable, Always On-Call. With over two decades of legal expertise, Jesse Strauss—Your Fractional General Counsel—is the lawyer who will truly understand your business. Jesse brings first-hand experience in guiding a startup from seed to acquisition and understands the legal complexities faced by high-growth, risk-tolerant companies. As an in-house counsel and executive, Jesse knows that speed and accessibility are crucial. He is committed to predictable fees, offering actionable legal advice promptly, and being constantly on call. With Your Fractional General Counsel, your legal needs are met with transparent and manageable costs. More than just effectively and efficiently drafting and negotiating your documents—legal 'table stakes'—Jesse immerses himself in your business as if he were an employee, ensuring that every legal decision is made with a deep understanding of your operations and goals. By hiring Jesse, you gain the expertise of a seasoned general counsel for just a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. With Your Fractional GC, you're not just hiring a lawyer; you're gaining a strategic ally.

  • Recent engagements include VC fundraising for AI start-up, LLC formation for a large real estate, property manager, employment agreements for an AI start-up, contracting for a hospitality start-up.
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  Everyrealm Inc.

  General Counsel

  Oct 2022 - Nov 2023

  Everyrealm is a technology company that creates innovative solutions for avid social gamers, with offerings across a variety of categories including identity, ranking, relationships, and events. We also publish community-driven video game titles.

  • Responsible for the legal due diligence, structuring, drafting, negotiation, and closing of transactions for blockchain assets as well as regulatory compliance.
  • Monitor and analyze emerging legal and regulatory changes in blockchain technology and token regulations, advising leadership proactively.
  • rovide actionable advice to cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, and operations related to privacy, global securities regulations, Federal Trade Commission and DMCA guidance for all crypto, blockchain and immersive media projects.
  • Completed a corporate recapitalization and share issuance for purposes of an acquisition.
  • Ensured compliance with state and federal laws including data security and privacy regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and COPPA for all projects.
  • Oversee company-wide risk management, intellectual property portfolio, legal employment matters, and litigation. Budgeted for and managed numerous outside counsel.
  • Prepare board agendas, resolutions and consents and manage the equity compensation plan.
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  TechGC

  Founding Member

  Sep 2017 - Jan 2024

  An independent, invitation-only, peer community where General Counsels share knowledge / best practices and support.

  • Featured speaker at the TechGC Integrity Summit on “Risk: Building a Framework for Integrity”
  • Featured speaker at a private fireside dinner on “Navigating Change: The Evolving Role of the GC Through Company Lifecycles”
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  Common Living Inc.

  Vice President and General Counsel

  May 2016 - Dec 2022

  The largest community-driven proptech residential operator in the US. Making city living easier.

  • Served as first lawyer and hired and led a high-functioning legal team consisting of two lawyers, two compliance professionals, and numerous support staff at a proptech startup.
  • Reported to the CEO and served on the Executive Committee and the Strategic Committee. Fostered growth from 25 employees operating 100 units in two states to 300 employees operating 3,000 units in ten states.
  • Prepared the legal strategy and negotiated the termination of real property leases and/or conversion of leases to management agreements, saving the approximately $5M in annual lease obligations and allowing for a successful acquisition of the company.
  • Prior to acquisition, prepared for an IPO or acquisition and completed the negotiation, diligence, and closing of a $40M Series C, $50M Series D, $25M bridge financing, and $15M venture debt facility.
  • Completed $10M in asset purchases and assignment of customer agreements from competing entities.
  • Managed numerous matters in pre-litigation as well as a nationwide portfolio of litigation involving company leases.
  • Drafted, negotiated, and executed over 190 bespoke agreements with institutional real estate developers for the finance and operation of 7,500+ units nationwide in 95 unique assets, as well as a pipeline of another 17,000 units globally by 2026.
  • Responsible for negotiation, enforcement, and compliance with contracts and financing documents.
  • Managed over a dozen outside counsel in numerous practice areas and jurisdictions, including budgeting and compliance with outside counsel guidelines.