Mark D. Bradford

Mark is one of Silicon Valley's most experienced executive compensation attorneys. He has deep experience in executive employment, equity and cash incentive, change in control, retention, severance plans, and non-competition and non-solicitation arrangements for emerging growth companies backed by both venture capital and private equity investors. Mark’s multidisciplinary practice covers areas of corporate, governance, securities, tax, and employment law relating to compensation matters. He brings a wealth of perspective regarding the culture and business needs of Silicon Valley companies when providing counsel to in-house legal, human resource, finance, tax, and stock administration professionals.

In over 250 cross-border and domestic M&A deals, Mark has represented buyers and sellers, in transactions ranging from a $7 billion sale of a major public company client, to mid-market M&A transactions, and small acquihires. For these transactions, Mark has negotiated and written deal-related agreements, including employment, incentive, retention, severance and non-competition, and worked on post-closing integration matters.

Mark is also a trusted advisor for individuals and groups of executives in management teams, from Fortune 500 C-suite members to startup-up founders, in negotiating employment, termination, retention, severance, and restrictive covenant arrangements in M&A, IPOs, direct listings, de-SPAC transactions, and significant financing transactions with outside investors.

Prior to joining VLP, Mark practiced at Gunderson Dettmer LLP, Cooley LLP, White & Case LLP, and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

Mark received both his law degree and a master’s in taxation from Boston University School of Law. He received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley. 

In his free time, Mark enjoys spending time with family, cycling, learning to play the guitar, and seeking culinary adventures.