Firm News
Snell & Wilmer Counsel Sarah Hibbard Named 2026 Law + Legal Pioneer by San Diego Magazine
SAN DIEGO – Snell & Wilmer is pleased to announce that Sarah Hibbard, counsel in the firm’s San Diego office, has been named the 2026 Law + Legal Pioneer as part of San Diego Magazine’s Celebrating Women Awards. Selected through a public voting process, Hibbard was recognized for her professional accomplishments, leadership, and contributions to San Diego’s legal and business communities. The annual awards honor one Pioneer and one Rising Star across 15 industries, recognizing women who are making a meaningful impact in their respective fields and the broader community.
Hibbard advises emerging growth and middle-market companies on a broad range of corporate and transactional matters, including venture capital financings, strategic investments, and mergers and acquisitions. Drawing on her experience in private practice and as a former in-house general counsel, she represents companies and investors in complex transactions across various industries, including life sciences and technology. Her representative matters include financings for Blueprint Equity, NEA, Brenig Therapeutics and Lomond Therapeutics, as well as the sale of San Diego-based Surgistar to Halma plc., and Clywedog Therapeutics’ proposed merger with Barinthus Biotherapeutics.
Beyond her legal practice, Hibbard is actively involved in San Diego’s innovation and life sciences communities. She serves on the Board of Directors of Connect San Diego and as co-vice chair of the Women in Bio Founders Forum, where she helped relaunch an initiative providing peer mentorship and professional connections for women entrepreneurs in the life sciences industry. She also mentors entrepreneurs through San Diego State University’s Zip Launch Pad, UC San Diego’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy, and UCSF Startup Legal Garage, supporting emerging companies and founders as they navigate legal and business challenges.
About Snell & Wilmer
Founded in 1938, Snell & Wilmer is a full-service business law firm with more than 550 attorneys practicing in 18 locations throughout the United States and in Mexico, including Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto and San Diego, California; Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; Boise, Idaho; Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; Dallas, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; and Los Cabos and Mexico City in Mexico. The firm represents clients ranging from large, publicly traded corporations to small businesses, individuals and entrepreneurs. For more information, visit swlaw.com.
