Her Story
About Tabitha
Tabitha Rainey Pullara is an accomplished business transactions attorney and outside general counsel with 24 years of experience advising middle-market companies on complex corporate and commercial matters. She is a co-founder of Garcia Rainey Blank & Bowerbank LLP, established in 2013, where she provides strategic legal counsel to businesses across consumer products, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries. Her practice encompasses contract drafting and negotiation, technology transactions, trademark protection, licensing, manufacturing and distribution agreements, and international business matters. Pullara is known for combining strong legal expertise with a business-minded approach that enables clients to manage risk while pursuing growth opportunities.
Pullara began her professional career with a strong foundation in finance, earning a B.A. in Business Administration, Finance from California State University, Fullerton, followed by a J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where she graduated at the top of her class. Before establishing her own practice, she gained extensive experience with Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, Newmeyer & Dillion LLP, and Pepper Hamilton LLP. Her experience includes corporate transactions, venture financings, acquisitions, technology licensing, outsourcing agreements, intellectual property matters, and complex commercial contracts. Licensed to practice in both California and Florida, she currently serves as outside general counsel to multiple companies, supporting executive leadership and managing sophisticated legal matters domestically and internationally.
Throughout her career, Pullara has emphasized professional growth, continuous learning, mentorship, and adaptability. She has been recognized with a Super Lawyers award and has successfully led complex investigations and litigation resulting in significant financial recoveries for clients. She is also attentive to emerging developments in the legal profession, particularly the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence, balancing its potential to improve efficiency with the need to preserve accuracy, quality, and sound professional judgment. Pullara encourages young women entering the legal profession to embrace challenging experiences, seek diverse perspectives, and pursue opportunities that expand their knowledge and confidence. Outside of her legal practice, she enjoys golf, fitness, and cooking and contributes to the Humane Society.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tabitha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to 24 years of practicing law with a strong understanding of business, a commitment to asking the right questions, and the ability to navigate complex transactions while helping companies move forward with confidence. My foundation began with a finance degree from California State University, Fullerton, followed by law school at Loyola, where I graduated at the top of my class with a focus on commercial and business law. Licensed to practice in California and Florida, I developed extensive transactional and technology contract experience at large law firms, including Sheppard Mullin and Pepper Hamilton, before co-founding my own law firm with Norma Garcia-Gann in 2013. Today, I serve as outside general counsel to multiple companies, advising clients on business transactions, commercial matters, technology contracts, and strategic legal issues. Throughout my career, I have remained focused on delivering practical, results-driven counsel, including successfully leading a complex investigation and litigation matter that resulted in the recovery of millions of dollars for a client. I believe my success is ultimately rooted in combining legal knowledge with financial insight, sound judgment, responsiveness, and a genuine commitment to helping clients achieve their goals.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from Sharon Fine of Pepper Hamilton’s Orange County office, who was an influential mentor throughout my career. She encouraged me to have the confidence to move forward with my own practice and supported me in taking that important step. Her guidance helped shape my career in technology contracts and healthcare law, while reinforcing the importance of trusting my experience, embracing new opportunities, and building a practice aligned with my strengths. Our professional relationship has continued over the years, and I remain grateful for her mentorship and the lasting impact she has had on my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the legal industry is to embrace opportunities that challenge you and seek experiences that broaden your perspective, even when they take you outside your comfort zone. Working with different leaders, navigating varied firm cultures, and gaining experience across transactional law, technology contracts, and business matters taught me the value of adaptability, resilience, and continuous learning. I encourage young professionals not to feel pressured to follow a single, predetermined path, but instead to pursue opportunities that expand their knowledge and strengthen their confidence. A successful legal career requires more than technical expertise; it requires understanding a client’s business objectives, anticipating risks, asking thoughtful questions, and providing practical guidance that supports informed decision-making. These experiences ultimately prepared me for entrepreneurship and taught me that some of the greatest professional growth comes from being willing to take on challenges and create your own path.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in the legal field right now is the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) into legal practice. I see tremendous potential for AI to improve efficiency, streamline processes, and help attorneys serve clients more effectively, but it must be implemented thoughtfully without compromising quality, accuracy, or professional judgment. A significant concern is the potential for AI to generate misinformation or inaccurate information that could ultimately mislead attorneys or clients. As someone whose career has consistently intersected with business and technology, I believe staying curious, adaptable, and committed to continuous learning is essential. The practice of law cannot remain static; effective counsel must evolve alongside the businesses, technologies, and industries we serve while maintaining the judgment, accountability, and personal insight that clients depend on.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my professional and personal life are professional growth, mentorship, and continuous learning. I believe that remaining open to new ideas, seeking opportunities to grow, and learning from the experiences of others are essential to long-term success and fulfillment. I also value the importance of sharing knowledge and supporting others through mentorship, particularly by helping emerging professionals build confidence and navigate their careers. Outside of my legal practice, I enjoy golf, fitness, and cooking, which provide opportunities to stay active, recharge, and maintain a healthy balance between my professional and personal life.
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