Team
Sam McClure
Managing Partner
After graduating from Stanford Law School, Sam started his career at Gunderson Dettmer LLP, where he worked with top-tier venture capital firms and dozens of startups from formation through maturity. He left the firm to co-found a consumer software startup, heading product, growth, and various business functions. The company was acquired.
Sam returned to Stanford to teach at the intersection of startups, law, sustainability, and impact. He regularly consults with founders who need a strategic legal advisor with operational experience and a 360-degree perspective. Cedar Grove LLP is the result of that practice.
Colin Van Loon
Partner
Colin began his career in education policy, culminating in his gubernatorial appointment to the California Community College Board of Governors, where he helped set policy for 100+ California community colleges.
Drawn to the startup ecosystem, Colin attended Stanford Law School and joined Fenwick & West LLP, where he represented venture capital firms and startup companies. After Fenwick, Colin joined AngelList Venture, where he led the Portfolio Management team, advised venture funds, and built operational infrastructure to scale back-office functions.
Colin leverages his legal and operational expertise to advise startups, funds, and social impact organizations.
Luisa Arango
Assistant
Luisa holds a degree in Literary Studies and Performance Art from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia and a master’s in Theatre Practice from the University of Exeter in England. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, she has a strong appreciation for language and communication. She has worked at the World Literacy Foundation and other law firms prior to joining Cedar Grove LLP, enriching her experience in advocacy, research, and cross-cultural communication.
Beyond the academic and professional, she has a strong background in literature and performance, making her passionate about storytelling in all its forms, from the professional to the creative and the personal.