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CLASS OF 2016

Virginia Debernardi

Legal Counsel in-house

Born in Italy, I spent my formative years at IST, enriching my foundation before venturing to the Netherlands for higher education and then worked in a law firm in Brussels — that’s the quick download on my backstory.

With my LL.M. degrees in hand, I jetted off to Spain, clocking in at the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office. My career took a northward trajectory when I transitioned from public service in sunny Spain to the bustling tech scene of Berlin. Joining a young software-as-a-service company, I had the unique opportunity to nurture the legal department from the ground up, under the mentorship of industry veterans. Berlin really is the pulsating capital of youth and holds a special place in my heart. Nonetheless, duty called, and I zipped over to Munich, where I am now, to lead an acquisition project.

I’m now predominantly engaged in negotiations and crafting commercial contracts, a role that frequently takes me across borders to meet clients. It’s all about stitching law into the fabric of trade and tech. These days really are a testament to the power of legal work paired with global exposure to foster innovation.