Heather Rafter
InvestorFounder & 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
- Mindset Music Ventures TechAdvisorcurrent2024 — present
- OwlDuetAdvisorcurrent2023 — present
- RafterMarsh US, P.C.Founder and Principalcurrent2009 — presentLicensed to practice in California; admitted as UK solicitor (non-practising)
- BrightTALKCounselcurrent2010 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- GobblerConsultant2012 — 2025Hollywood, California
- Sixense Entertainment, Inc.Counsel and Member, Board of Advisors2011 — 2018Los Gatos, California
- GildCounsel2015 — 2016San Francisco Bay Area
- Avid TechnologyGeneral Counsel, Avid Audio1995 — 2008
- Avid TechnologyGeneral Counsel1994 — 2008
- DigidesignGeneral Counsel1994 — 2008
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPAttorney1986 — 1994
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPSummer Associate1985
- Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw PittmanSummer Associate1985
- WMCA RadioOffice Manager1982 — 1983
Education
- Columbia Law SchoolJ.D.1983 — 1986
- Princeton UniversityA.B. (magna cum laude), Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs1978 — 1982
- Phillips Exeter AcademyHigh School, Classics degree (cum laude)1976 — 1978
- Princeton Day School
Skills & more
Strategy64Dispute Resolution7Pro Tools18Intellectual Property99Privacy Policies19Licensing99Contract Negotiation55Mergers22Copyright Law40Corporate Law89Privacy Law14Employment Law26
+12 more
SoundDigital AudioMergers & AcquisitionsEntertainmentCorporate DevelopmentMusicBusiness DevelopmentTrademarksStrategic PartnershipsMusic IndustryDigital MediaDue DiligenceFrom Heather's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended Columbia Law School52
Sapna MehtaInvestor at RevolutionHoward CoxSpecial Limited Partner at Greylock PartnersPria NarsimanGeneral Counsel at GreycroftJack LevyInvestor at Israel Cleantech VenturesAlexander KhutorskyVice President, Mergers & Acquisitions at DuPont at The Innovation SpaceRay KohCo-Founder & Managing Partner at Lotus Venture Partners
+ 46 more
Also attended Princeton University557
Fabrice GrindaCo-founder & Managing Partner at FJ LabsAndrewAdvisor at Clear VenturesChristal NgAssociate at Golden Gate VenturesDavid CoatsManaging Director & Co-Founder at Correlation VenturesDan MoreheadFounder & CEO at Pantera CapitalGeoff YangCo-Founder at Redpoint Ventures
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+ 551 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Gobbler2
Also worked at Sixense Entertainment, Inc.1
Also worked at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman15
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 VenturesDeLisa AlexanderFormer Chief People Officer, Red Hat at Bull City Venture PartnersDavid LePortfolio Success Team at Autotech Ventures
+ 9 more
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