David Awad

On both sides.

An essay on the work I do — and the work I used to need done for me.

Acquisitions & Investments

Then.

I was the one staring at a 90-page SPA on a Friday night with no idea where the bear traps were.

Now.

I am the one who redlines it overnight and tells you which five things actually matter.

Raising Venture Capital

Then.

I read my first term sheet and accepted the participating preferred because I didn't know what it meant.

Now.

I know what it means. I know which terms to fight, which to accept, and which to never sign.

Real Estate

Then.

I let a seller pick the title company. I trusted the title company.

Now.

Don't let the seller pick the title company.

Technology Litigation & Disputes

Then.

My code got stolen and I didn't know what a preservation hold was.

Now.

I send the preservation hold by lunch. I image the workstation by sundown.

ADA Digital Litigation Defense

Then.

I would have paid the demand letter.

Now.

I don't pay the demand letter. We fix the site. We file the motion. They walk.

AI & Software Compliance

Then.

I would have read the headline and panicked.

Now.

I read the statute. Most of the panic was the headline.

Data Privacy

Then.

I once shipped a privacy policy in a weekend because the lawyer wouldn't return my emails.

Now.

I return the emails.

Intellectual Property

Then.

I assumed the designer assigned me her logo because I paid for it.

Now.

Without it in writing, she didn't. We fix that, today.

Securities & Quant Trading

Then.

My friends asked me to invest. I would have said yes without thinking about the SEC.

Now.

I think about the SEC first.

Notary Services

Then.

I needed something notarized at midnight in a state with no walk-in notaries.

Now.

I'm a notary. We handle it in the same call.

Technical Criminal Defense

Then.

I assumed an indictment was the end of the conversation.

Now.

It's the beginning of one. I read logs for a living.

Briefly:

I'm an attorney in good standing with the California Bar (#357204). JD from Northwestern California University School of Law. MS Computer Science from Georgia Tech, BS Computer Science & Physics from Rutgers. Before I practiced law I built things at SendGrid, MailChimp, Tumblr, iconectiv, and R3. I've been an expert witness on software engineering matters. ABA, IEEE, EFF. Notary.

What people have said.

"David consistently showcases exceptional technical skills, resourcefulness, and a proactive approach in understanding project objectives."
— Alexis DeBose, Attorney at Archetype Legal
"David has my highest recommendation."
— John El-Maraghy, Cofounder, ARM
"He's my go-to guy for all technical due diligence and deal analysis."
— Edward Castaño, CEO, First Gen Growth
"David was a tremendous software engineering expert — an excellent witness on the stand during direct and cross examination."
— Seth Wilson, Partner, Morris Wilson
"David turned around modified terms of service quickly — he understood the business first, then built us a workable solution."
— Phil Rafla, Founder, SPD Distribution

I don't take every engagement.

When I do, it starts at awad.lawyer — or [email protected].

This page is where I write. The firm is where I work.

Licensed to practice in California (Bar #357204). This page is informational and is not legal advice; reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. For matters outside California, David can refer you to a colleague.