John T. Roberts
John co-founded New Counsel, PLC in 2006 with Harold Slawik. John’s practice has been centered on helping early stage companies that develop or use software, the Internet, mobile applications and related computer hardware to create the next wave of the digital revolution.
John started his legal career with Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas. In 1985, John left “TI” to join a telecommunications start-up in Plano, Texas, DSC Communications Corporation. DSC created digital technology for the newly deregulated telecommunications industry. In John’s nine years at DSC, the company grew from 200 employees and no revenue to 5,000 employees and over a $1B in annual revenues.
John returned to the Twin Cities in 1995 and joined the law firm of Stinson Leonard (f/k/a Leonard, Street and Deinard). John helped create the Internet and e-commerce practice group; brought more than thirty Internet based clients to the firm; and represented start-ups and Fortune 500 clients with Internet, e-commerce, information technology and telecommunications issues.
In 2000, John joined Internet software pioneer, Net Perceptions, as General Counsel.
Between 2002 and 2006, John served as Deputy General Counsel at ValueVision Media, Inc., operator of the nation’s third largest home shopping television network. John served as chief counsel for the company’s $200M dollar internet-based retail business.
John graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota in 1979. John received his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1982.