Deborah Robbins Schwarzer Email & Phone Number

I worked with Corin Goodwin and several others to found GHF. GHF has grown to be one of the largest non-profits in the country focused exclusively on assisting families interested in teaching their gifted children at home, bridging the gap between homeschooling groups and traditional education groups for the gifted. I set up the corporation and currently act as its legal advisor.

San Jose, Ca

I built up and lead the legal team in advising a growing privately-held telecommunications company in the "Internet of Things" field on all legal issues, including contracts, regulatory, partnerships, patent and trademark, corporate, securities, privacy and international. I work with outside counsel on specialized matters and coordinate with all internal departments. I can't rely on a form book because we're making up new kinds of business in IoT. It's an exciting time.

I assisted technology clients with licensing, distribution and general contract matters. Clients were in such industries as telecommunications, network-attached storage, financial services software and software regarding use of airline data.

I was the second partner to join GCA in 1990, and worked there full time until becoming General Counsel of Heska Corporation in 1996. My clients were principally start-up high technology companies needing assistance with venture financing, licensing, sales and distribution and general corporate matters. I also represented a number of larger corporations, including Logitech and HP, who wanted responsive counsel to work on licensing matters. I returning to the firm in 2003 in an of counsel position, and during my time in that position principally handled licensing and distribution matters, as well as assisting on a number of merger transactions. Representative clients included companies in typographic software and business continuity applications.

I served as the chair or co-chair of the HSC legal team as well as the chair of the legislative function for many years. My role was to keep current on legal and legislative developments in the state and nationally, advise families on legal issues relating to homeschooling, and assist families who were having difficulties due to their homeschooling status. In 2008, I became heavily involved in a legal case that had narrowly constricted the right of parents to homeschool, working with other statewide and national groups and with pro bono counsel. I helped write one amicus brief submitted to the court in that case and was co-author of another. I lobbied the California legislature extensively, asking them not to pass any new homeschooling legislation until the judicial process in the case had run its course. The court issued a new ruling favorable to homeschooling families, which had a very beneficial impact on the climate for homeschooling in California (and reduced the workload of the legal team).

While at Heska, I assumed principal responsibility for all corporate matters, including venture financings, major corporate partnerships involving both licensing and equity components, HR oversight and sales and distribution issues. When Heska went public, I helped select outside counsel and participated in all aspects of the process. I also did the 1934 Act compliance work afterwards and reviewed all public statements issued.

Advised startup companies on all corporate matters, handled private and public equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance issues, distribution and licensing agreements.

Ba, Philosophy

Activities and Societies: Rowed varsity crew, sang with a capella group The Tupelos.Graduated as Durant Scholar with Honors in Philosophy..

Jd, Law