Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, today announced that Margaret Chow, former chief legal officer of Couchbase, has joined the firm’s General Counsel in Residence (GCIR) program. Chow brings more than 15 years of experience guiding high-growth technology companies through pivotal stages, including IPOs and the transition to public company governance, global expansion, business transformations, and acquisitions. In the process, she has earned a reputation for building high-performing legal teams trusted and respected throughout the organization.
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Margaret Chow, General Counsel in Residence participant
Most recently, as senior vice president, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary at Couchbase, Chow built and scaled the company’s global legal function, advised senior leadership and the board on governance and strategic business matters, and led the company through its 2021 IPO and 2025 take-private acquisition. As a proven executive leader, she was also tapped to serve as interim chief people officer, and sponsor for the company’s ESG program.
“Margaret understands something that can be difficult to appreciate from the outside: the questions facing a general counsel rarely arrive neatly divided into legal and business issues,” said Rezwan Pavri, chair at Wilson Sonsini. “The role often calls for balancing competing priorities and helping leaders make decisions when there is no obvious answer. It requires pragmatism, discernment, and an instinct for identifying what matters most. Margaret brings all three, and those qualities make her an exceptional addition to the GCIR program and a valuable resource for our clients.”
Before Couchbase, Chow served as vice president and deputy general counsel at Medallia, where she was a strategic advisor to the C-suite as the company scaled from a Series C start-up to a public company valued at more than $3 billion. She oversaw legal teams responsible for commercial transactions, corporate, employment, and legal operations; served as lead attorney on equity and debt financings, M&A transactions, and the company’s successful IPO; and established the legal infrastructure for operations spanning more than 20 countries.
Earlier, as associate general counsel at Usablenet, Chow supported the company during a period of substantial expansion, handling commercial transactions, corporate matters, intellectual property, data privacy, and litigation.
Chow began her career as an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.
“I’m excited to join the GCIR program and partner with the talented team at Wilson Sonsini,” said Chow. “Being a chief legal officer has taught me how uniquely critical the role can be to a company in times of rapid business transformation. That is especially relevant in today’s environment. A well-built legal team can be a strategic advantage for the company, serving as forward-leaning business partners that can foresee and navigate the twists and turns ahead in service of the company’s ultimate goals. I’m looking forward to bringing those lessons to the GCIR program, while learning from the opportunities and challenges facing other leaders today.”
Chow has also served as a board member and secretary of the Anjiro Initiative, a nonprofit expanding access to education for underserved students in Madagascar, where she led the organization’s corporate governance efforts.
She earned her J.D. from Yale Law School and dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of California, Berkeley.
Chow’s addition brings the GCIR program’s roster to seven current and former chief legal officers, further broadening the range of in-house perspectives. Launched in February 2025, the program connects clients with legal leaders who collaborate with Wilson Sonsini attorneys and share insights on governance, legal operations, and the evolving role of the general counsel.
About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
For more than 65 years, Wilson Sonsini’s services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has more than 1,000 attorneys and 17 offices in 16 technology, business, and regulatory markets across the United States, Asia, and Europe. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.
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