SQC Names Karna Nisewaner as Chief Legal Officer

Insider Brief

• Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC) has appointed Karna Nisewaner as Chief Legal Officer to support its commercial and governance strategy for atomic-precision and silicon-based quantum computing development.
• Nisewaner brings over 25 years of legal and executive experience across the semiconductor and technology sectors, including senior roles at Cadence Design Systems, IBM, and Intuit.
• The appointment follows recent investment activity and participation in DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative as SQC continues advancing its quantum computing roadmap.

Press release – Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), a global pioneer in quantum computing and atomic-precision manufacturing, today announced the appointment of Karna Nisewaner as Chief Legal Officer, effective 1 June 2026. 

The appointment strengthens SQC’s executive team as company executes its roadmap to universal, commercial-scale quantum computers.

Based in Palo Alto, California, Nisewaner is a global legal executive with over 25 years of experience at the forefront of the AI and semiconductor industries. She has led and scaled multinational teams, advising on a range of legal matters including corporate governance, intellectual property, strategic relationships, compliance and government relations. 

Prior to joining SQC, Nisewaner served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Cadence Design Systems, where she supported the company’s growth over a 14-year tenure. She held previous in-house roles at Intuit and IBM.

SQC Founder and CEO, Michelle Simmons, said: “World-class talent and industry leaders have a home at SQC. Karna’s experience navigating legal, regulatory and governance challenges at the highest levels of the global technology industry is directly in line with our trajectory, and we are delighted to welcome her to the team.”

SQC Chief Legal Officer, Karna Nisewaner, added: “I have dedicated my career to helping technology companies scale with the discipline and rigor that complex, global environments demand. I’m proud to join SQC, a team at the forefront of atomic-scale semiconductor manufacturing and silicon-based quantum computing.”

The appointment follows a period continued momentum for SQC, including recent investments from Australia’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) and London-based quantum VC firm, Firgun Ventures. SQC is one of the 11 companies globally selected for Stage B of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, and the company continues to deploy its quantum-enhanced AI and simulation systems among enterprise customers today.