Technology Transactions Partner Tigist Kassahun Joins Vinson & Elkins

Vinson & Elkins today announced that Tigist Kassahun has joined the firm as a Corporate partner. She will start in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office before soon transitioning her practice to New York.

Kassahun has significant experience in all aspects of the intellectual property (IP) and technology aspects of commercial transactions, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, financings, capital markets offerings, joint ventures, and minority stake transactions. She regularly represents both strategic buyers and sellers, as well as private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in deals involving digital platforms, software and data services, life sciences, insurance and financial products, energy and manufacturing. She also counsels clients on structuring and negotiating agreements involving the development, licensing, and commercialization of IP, artificial intelligence, and data as well as data privacy and cybersecurity issues.

“Tigist brings deep commercial experience across many technology sectors. She will be a vital asset to clients across industries as they develop, acquire, and monetize the technologies that underpin their businesses and drive growth, particularly in the context of strategic transactions,” said Partner John Grand, co-head of Vinson & Elkins’ Corporate practice group.

“I was drawn to Vinson & Elkins by the quality of the work, the caliber of the people, the collaborative environment, and the firm’s commitment to helping clients succeed,” Kassahun said. “Most importantly, the firm reflects how I want to serve clients: with deep experience, practical solutions, and a team approach that executes at the highest level while keeping client relationships at the center of the work.”

She joins Vinson & Elkins from Debevoise & Plimpton, where she was a counsel in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology Transactions practices. Kassahun received her bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Vinson & Elkins’ Technology Transactions practice draws talent from a cross-section of the firm’s Intellectual Property and Corporate practices, combining vast transactional experience with a deep understanding of the critical legal and technical aspects of commercial transactions and intellectual property rights. The team provides a full range of integrated services to clients developing and selling technology, offering technology-enabled services or using technology in any industry to improve operations or better serve their customers.