Legal team size: Three

Karim Sharobim is Chief Legal Officer at Inovia Capital, Canada’s leading full-stack software investor. With more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of law, business and innovation, he plays a central role in shaping Inovia’s legal and strategic direction. Karim oversees all legal and regulatory matters and leads a high-performing legal team that supports the firm’s fund formations, venture financings, acquisitions and exits.

Before joining Inovia, Karim was Vice-President, Legal Affairs at Canada’s largest vision correction provider, where he guided its rapid growth and cross-border expansion. He began his career in private practice, advising on complex mergers, acquisitions and corporate transactions for more than a decade.

Karim holds a BBA from HEC Montréal and an LL.B. from the Université de Montréal.

What projects are you most proud to have worked on over the past 12 months?

Over the past year, I have had the privilege of leading Inovia Capital’s legal function through several complex and strategic initiatives that have strengthened the firm’s governance and supported its continued growth.

A key milestone was leading the legal structuring and launch of Inovia Growth Fund III (~CAD 500M), backed by prominent institutional investors. This project reflected months of collaboration across legal, investment and operational teams to establish a robust framework that advances Inovia’s long-term strategy and capacity to support exceptional technology companies.

I also oversaw the firm’s corporate reorganisation, which involved redesigning our legal and operational structure to support expansion and reinforce governance. This initiative enhanced both the flexibility and resilience of our platform.

In parallel, my team supported a high volume of portfolio company transactions, including major financings and M&A activities across multiple jurisdictions, while maintaining a high standard of precision and consistency. These efforts, though often behind the scenes, are central to our role as trusted partners to founders and investors alike.

Finally, I continue to take pride in the strong partnerships we maintain with external counsel and in contributing to the broader legal and venture capital communities through panel discussions and industry committees.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

I have had the rare opportunity to build two legal departments from the ground up — first in a fast-growing health company, and later at Inovia Capital. Both experiences required combining legal rigour with entrepreneurial thinking to design practical, scalable frameworks that evolve with the business.

My career has been marked by variety: from managing hundreds of corporate entities and transactions to advising on fund formations and technology investments. The breadth of these mandates, together with the privilege of working closely with visionary entrepreneurs and investors, has made for an exceptionally stimulating and rewarding journey.

Equally rewarding has been the opportunity to work alongside outstanding colleagues within my legal teams. Their professionalism, curiosity and commitment make it possible to deliver high-quality work under demanding circumstances. I am deeply proud of what we have built together.

How does your team contribute to the overall business strategy of the company?

The legal team at Inovia, which I lead from Montreal, plays a strategic and enabling role in the firm’s growth. Beyond ensuring compliance and managing risk, we serve as a bridge between business objectives and legal frameworks, supporting investment structuring, governance and operational initiatives.

Since its creation, the department has become a trusted internal partner, providing clear, actionable guidance that allows our investment professionals to move quickly and confidently. Our approach is rooted in collaboration, discipline and the understanding that effective legal strategy is not about saying “no,” but about helping the business achieve its goals safely and sustainably.