Derek Eletich

Adjunct Professor Eletich is a Silicon Valley-based attorney advising new media companies on operations, corporate governance, intellectual property and litigation.  Professor Eletich has over thirteen years experience representing technology companies in all types of matters.  Professor Eletich started his career in 1998 at the law firm of Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon LLP, and later joined the law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in 2000.  At both firms, he was an associate focused on intellectual property and commercial litigation matters.  In 2002, Professor Eletich founded his own firm in Palo Alto where he continued to litigate cases for clients in the technology sector including Advent Software, Inc., SunPower Corporation, LECG, and iPass Inc.  In 2009, Professor Eletich was asked to join Playdom, Inc.-a social gaming company and one of his former clients-as its Assistant General Counsel. 

At Playdom, Professor Eletich is responsible for all legal affairs including supporting various business teams such as sales, business development, and human resources; directing high-profile litigation against Playdom's competitor involving trade secret, copyright and trademark claims; coordinating and managing outside counsel; overseeing all intellectual property; handling all third party disputes and claims; and negotiating and drafting sales, platform, partner, contractor and other commercial agreements.  Playdom was sold to The Walt Disney Company in August 2010 for $563 million following a year of very rapid growth and eight acquisitions of other social gaming companies by Playdom.