OUR PROFESSIONALS

Joanna Valencia, JD, CIPP/US, AIGP, CFCM

General Counsel with more than 20 years of experience guiding CEOs, boards, and executive teams through the intersection of law, business, and technology. Joanna has built and scaled legal functions across high-growth and highly regulated industries, including SaaS, fintech, cybersecurity, and government contracting.

Known for aligning legal strategy with commercial objectives, she has negotiated enterprise SaaS agreements with Fortune 1000 clients, led multi-million-dollar M&A transactions, and embedded compliance frameworks that withstand regulatory scrutiny. She has transformed legal departments into growth enablers, reducing contract cycle times, modernizing governance, and creating scalable playbooks that accelerate revenue while managing risk.

Her leadership roles include serving as Chief Legal Officer and CHRO at NeoSystems, General Counsel at Summit 7 Systems, and outside general counsel to technology and high-growth companies nationwide. Earlier in her career, she trained in BigLaw with Mintz, Greenberg Traurig, and Bracewell.

Joanna is admitted to practice in California, Virginia, Florida, and D.C. She holds a J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), and executive certificates from Harvard Business School and Cornell University.

She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US), Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP), and Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM) (credential earned).

A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Joanna is recognized for delivering practical, forward-looking counsel that protects innovation and positions organizations for long-term success. She is also the author of The CMMC Handbook: A Practical Guide for Contractors, MSPs, and Compliance Leaders (2025), a #1 Best Seller in Business Contracts Law and Cloud Computing on Amazon and and IAPP® AIGP® Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional™ Comprehensive Study Guide. Her books are available on Amazon.