Fundraising Fox

Heather Rafter

Investor

Founder & Principal, RafterMarsh US at The 98

Portola Valley, California, United States

About

Heather Rafter is founder and principal of RafterMarsh US, a boutique international law firm with licensed attorneys in California, Colorado, New Jersey, England & Wales, and New York. She began her career as a litigator at a multinational firm handling media, software, and intellectual property matters, then served as general counsel at Digidesign for fourteen years before establishing RafterMarsh in 2009. The firm serves technology, music tech, live events, and digital media companies, with specializations in licensing, intellectual property, technology agreements, and e-commerce contracting.

Experience

  1. Mindset Music Ventures TechAdvisorcurrent2024 — present
  2. OwlDuetAdvisorcurrent2023 — present
  3. RafterMarsh US, P.C.Founder and Principalcurrent2009 — presentLicensed to practice in California; admitted as UK solicitor (non-practising)
  4. BrightTALKCounselcurrent2010 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  5. GobblerConsultant2012 — 2025Hollywood, California
  6. Sixense Entertainment, Inc.Counsel and Member, Board of Advisors2011 — 2018Los Gatos, California
  7. GildCounsel2015 — 2016San Francisco Bay Area
  8. Avid TechnologyGeneral Counsel, Avid Audio1995 — 2008
  9. Avid TechnologyGeneral Counsel1994 — 2008
  10. DigidesignGeneral Counsel1994 — 2008
  11. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPAttorney1986 — 1994
  12. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPSummer Associate1985
  13. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw PittmanSummer Associate1985
  14. WMCA RadioOffice Manager1982 — 1983

Skills & more

Strategy64Dispute Resolution7Pro Tools18Intellectual Property99Privacy Policies19Licensing99Contract Negotiation55Mergers22Copyright Law40Corporate Law89Privacy Law14Employment Law26
+12 moreSoundDigital AudioMergers & AcquisitionsEntertainmentCorporate DevelopmentMusicBusiness DevelopmentTrademarksStrategic PartnershipsMusic IndustryDigital MediaDue Diligence

From Heather's professional profile.

Colleagues at The 98

Alex Collmer
Founder & Executive Chair, VidMob at The 98
Ameneh Atai
General Manager, Audience Measurement, Nielsen Media at The 98
Annette Rodriguez
Senior Advisor, MKH Capital Partners at The 98
Ashley Davis
Partner, S-3 Group at The 98
Beth Gostanian
VP, Product, Canto at The 98
Craig Forman
General Partner, NextNews Ventures at The 98
Deborah Stambaugh
Founder & CEO, Brave New World at The 98
Diane deCordova
Investor & Co-Founder, Adelaide Metrics at The 98

Frequently asked questions

Who is Heather Rafter?
Heather Rafter is founder and principal of RafterMarsh US, a boutique international law firm with licensed attorneys in California, Colorado, New Jersey, England & Wales, and New York. She began her career as a litigator at a multinational firm handling media, software, and intellectual property matters, then served as general counsel at Digidesign for fourteen years before establishing RafterMarsh in 2009. The firm serves technology, music tech, live events, and digital media companies, with specializations in licensing, intellectual property, technology agreements, and e-commerce contracting.
Where does Heather Rafter work?
Heather Rafter is Founder & Principal, RafterMarsh US at The 98.
Where did Heather Rafter go to school?
Heather Rafter studied at Columbia Law School (J.D.); Princeton University (A.B. (magna cum laude), Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs); Phillips Exeter Academy (High School, Classics degree (cum laude)).

Same school

Also attended Columbia Law School92

Sapna MehtaInvestor at RevolutionJoanna BlackGeneral Counsel at Madrona Venture GroupHoward CoxSpecial Limited Partner at Greylock PartnersPria NarsimanGeneral Counsel at GreycroftElaine SunInvestor at CapitalGJack LevyInvestor at Israel Cleantech Ventures

+ 86 more

Also attended Princeton University776

Fabrice GrindaCo-founder & Managing Partner at FJ LabsRyan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)Dario AmodeiCo-founder & CEO of AnthropicFei-Fei LiCo-founder & CEO of World Labs; Sequoia Professor of Computer Science at StanfordCat WuInvestor at Index VenturesAndrewAdvisor at Clear Ventures

+ 770 more

Also attended Phillips Exeter Academy124

Nathaniel HardingManaging Partner at Cortado VenturesMichael GreeleyCo-Founder and General Partner at Flare Capital PartnersChris SaxmanDigital health entrepreneur, startup mentor, skier, fly fisherman, Steelers fanatic, Co-head of Health 2.0 Denver/Boulder ChapterMax Von PoelnitzPartner at Foothill VenturesJohn H. N. FisherFounder and Managing Partner at DFJJacques PouheManaging Director at Skyview Ventures

+ 118 more

Also attended Princeton Day School19

John DennyVP, eCommerce & Digital at CAVU Consumer PartnersEvan FuAssociate at DFJAllison PazInvestor at Reign VenturesScott FeldmanInvestor at Susquehanna Growth EquityPeter BordesManaging Partner at Trajectory VenturesSethPresident and Chief Executive Officer at Terra Firma Capital Corporation

+ 13 more

Shared employers

Also worked at BrightTALK2

Caritta SeppäInvestment Manager at Spintop VenturesAmy KalnokiFounder at Bitwave

Also worked at Gobbler2

Mike HerringInvestor at EPIC VENTURESSanket ChauhanFounder at Stardex

Also worked at Sixense Entertainment, Inc.1

Walter GreenleafInvestor at JLS

Also worked at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman16

Deborah CarrilloPartner + General Counsel at Menlo VenturesSteve WurzburgCo-Founder & General Partner at Ferocity CapitalAlbert LeeHead of Strategic Relationships at Matter Venture PartnersBrian RojasInvestor at Side Door VenturesDavid LePortfolio Success Team at Autotech VenturesChris MirickInvestor at IBX

+ 10 more