Suggestions
Daniel Yost
Technology Transactions Global Co-Chair at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Daniel Yost is a co-chair of the IP licensing and technology transactions practice at Orrick, where he formerly served as the co-chair of the Emerging Companies Group. With a focus on negotiating intricate commercial and technology transactions and providing intellectual property counseling, Daniel has extensive experience advising clients on various legal aspects including commercial law, copyright, licensing, marketing, patent, privacy, strategic alliances, trademark, and trade secrets.
Daniel has a diverse client portfolio spanning across industries such as biotechnology, consumer electronics, energy, entertainment, hardware, Internet, media, semiconductor, services, software, telecommunications, and wireless. Within the energy sector, he has worked with companies involved in biofuels, carbon capture, energy-tech, geothermal, solar, storage, and waste-to-energy initiatives.
Outside his professional endeavors, Daniel is deeply engaged in his community. His past involvements include serving as the Mayor and Councilmember for the Town of Woodside, CA, and being a founding Board member for Peninsula Clean Energy in San Mateo County, CA. Currently, he volunteers his time with several climate and energy-related boards and projects, including the Green Advisory Counsel for the California League of Conservation Voters, the Advisory Board for the Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment at Berkeley Law, and the Board of Directors of Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network. Daniel is affiliated with Environmental Entrepreneurs and has dedicated pro bono work to organizations focused on climate change solutions and LGBT rights.
Daniel's educational background includes a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley - School of Law, a Fulbright Scholarship at Oxford University's Linacre College, a double major BA in Economics and American Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a High School Diploma from Maret School.
Highlights
I am happy to share that CA Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that I had the honor of helping with. When my friend and CA State Senate candidate Josh Becker (now Senator!) and I brainstormed ways for CA to expand its leadership on climate matters, we felt State government should get its own house in order first. SB 1203 requires all State agencies to make plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions from their own operations by 2035 with reporting requirements and interim goals. California’s economy-wide goal for “net zero” is 2045, but now the State’s $300 billion budget will be directed to zero out ghg emissions at an accelerated pace. The bill covers both direct emissions from State agencies’ vehicles and buildings and indirect emissions such as power purchases. The transparency requirements mean government agency emissions will be measured and published every year. If there are barriers identified to achieving this goal (and there may be, it’s not easy), then those will be identified to the Legislature with suggestions for actions to reduce them. While accelerating the speed of ghg reductions by State government is laudable, the indirect results may be bigger: identifying barriers to emissions reduction that can be addressed early, creating a large customer for companies in the emissions monitoring and zero emission products space, and creating lists of best practices and technical advice that other governments and businesses can adopt to accelerate their own transition. Kudos to Senator Becker for getting this bill across the finish line and to the State Legislature and Governor for agreeing to hold themselves to a higher standard in the energy transition!
I am impressed we have so many climate leaders that live in the 'hood. Looking forward to moderating this event 1 week from today.
