Christie Branson Ma is responsible for managing the legal and regulatory aspects of fund formation, limited partner relations, corporate governance, and company and venture fund investments for SVB Capital and Silicon Valley Bank’s strategic balance sheet investments. In the past, Christie has advised Silicon Valley Bank on its public company SEC filings, international expansion efforts, employee equity and benefit programs, and warrant portfolio.  

Prior to SVB, Christie was an attorney at DLA Piper, focused on assisting venture funds, private and public emerging companies with IPOs and private financings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance in the high technology and bio-technology sectors.

Christie graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Sociology and Communication, and holds a JD from the Santa Clara University School of Law. Christie is also a member of the California State Bar. Christie is native to California. 

Curtis is recognized as a leading corporate and securities lawyer in Silicon Valley.  Curtis has represented emerging growth companies, major public companies,

investment banks, venture capital funds and private equity funds in hundreds of public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, buyouts, venture capital financings and other complex transactions. He has extensive experience in corporate governance matters and regularly acts as general outside counsel to public and private companies at all stages of development, particularly in the technology, life sciences and consumer sectors.

Curtis was the founding and managing partner of the Palo Alto office of two different national law firms, and co-chair of the Corporate group in Silicon Valley for a third. He is a past co-Chair of PLI’s Annual Institute and founded and co-Chairs PLI’s Venture Capital series.