The Legal 500

Within Patent litigation: International Trade Commission, tier 4

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati provides trial experience at the ITC across a broad range of sectors, including hi-tech and life sciences, with high-profile clients including footwear maker Crocs. Stefani Shanberg remains a key specialist on ITC investigations. James Otteson left to set up his own IP litigation boutique, Agility IP Law, in early 2010, while Larry Shatzer joined in June 2010 from Foley & Lardner LLP, where he was chair of the IP litigation practice.

Within Securities: shareholder litigation, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is a second tier firm,

Primarily working out of its Palo Alto headquarters, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has the best West Coast securities litigation practice in the market. Given its western bias, it is unsurprising that the firm has a superb track record for representing issuers. Among these, major corporations such as Boeing, Dell Computer, Fluor, 3Com and Hewlett-Packard have all benefited from the firm’s expertise. Recent highlights include successfully defending Guidant Corporation and some of its former officers and directors against a securities class action that alleged the clients had issued false and misleading public statements concerning certain products and a proposed merger with Johnson & Johnson. In a major derivative action, the firm successfully defended Hewlett Packard against a claim relating to the departure package given to former CEO Carleton Fiorina in 2005. The lower court’s decision was ultimately upheld by the Ninth Circuit at the end of 2009. Among the partners, Boris Feldman has represented companies and their officers in over 160 shareholder class actions and derivative suits throughout the US. Steven Schatz, who divides his time between Palo Alto and New York, is also highly recommended, having been lead counsel in over 80 shareholder class actions and derivative suits in the past 20 years.

Within Technology: transactions, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is a first tier firm,

With 40 attorneys, including 13 partners dedicated to technology transactions, ‘well-known Silicon Valley firm’ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati leverages its strength in technology and IP to advise clients ranging from early-stage start-ups to recognized industry leaders on complex industry issues. Its deep specialist expertise across technology industries, including semiconductors, hardware, software, communications, biotech and life sciences, has been the key to its market leading reputation. High-profile mandates included representing Sun Microsystems in its acquisition by Oracle Corporation, and successfully acting for Google and YouTube in defense of the copyright infringement action brought by Viacom. The ‘formidable’ Palo Alto-based practice head Suzanne Bell handles complex, strategic transactions, notably for Google. She has particular expertise in software deals and is acknowledged as ‘a leading light in the computer and semiconductor space’. Former network engineer Michael Murphy is recognized for his strength in patent litigation, while Kenneth Clark handles partnering and technology transactions, notably in the biotechnology industry. Cleantech expert Todd Glass represents project developers, venture capital firms, and utilities in North America, Asia, and Europe. In 2010, Michael Rabson from Cytokinetics joined the firm and Miranda Biven, who represents life sciences clients in technology transactions, was promoted to partner. Clients include AOL, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Pixar and Polycom.

Within Antitrust, tier 5

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advises on antitrust aspects of M&A, criminal and civil investigations by government agencies, antitrust litigation and advice on issues relating to intellectual property. In working with Fortune 100 global enterprises as well as venture-backed start-ups, the group has gained expertise across a broad array of industry sectors, ranging from software and medical devices to food services and media. The group is particularly renowned for its work in the technology sector, where previous work included advising Sun Microsystems on its $7.4bn acquisition by Oracle Corporation in 2009. Washington DC-based Susan Creighton, a former director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, is recommended for antitrust advice generally, while Renata Hesse focuses on antitrust litigation and counseling and is a former chief of the networks and technology enforcement section of the Antitrust Division at the DOJ. In New York, Jonathan Jacobson represents corporations in high-profile antitrust litigation and investigations.

Within M&A: large deals ($1bn-5bn), Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is a third tier firm,

Based in California, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has ‘top-flight M&A attorneys’. The firm advises on the full range of transactions involving domestic and foreign technology and growth business enterprises at all stages of development. Martin Korman leads the group. Korman advised Sun Microsystems in its merger with Oracle, acted for Genentech in its acquisition by Roche, and assisted Freescale Semiconductor in its going-private transaction. He also represented Hewlett-Packard in its merger with Compaq, acted for Sun Microsystems in its acquisition of StorageTek and was counsel to Pixar in its merger with Disney. Barry Taylor rejoined the firm in Palo Alto as a partner in the corporate and securities practice from Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm, where he served as a managing director in the technology, media, and telecom group. Michael Rabson also rejoined the firm in Palo Alto as a partner. Formerly general counsel and senior vice president at Cytokinetics, Rabson serves as a strategic adviser to life sciences and clean technology clients, advising on technology transactions.

Within Venture capital and emerging companies, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is a first tier firm,

From its Silicon Valley headquarters, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is recognised throughout the world for its mighty practice, which continues to represent some of the most successful names in this sector. It has taken a number of companies from the start-up stage to becoming a worldwide giant, and has worked for many of the leading venture funds, including Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Worldview Technology Partners, Pacific Biosciences, Luxim, Corefino, Apple, Google and Sun Microsystems. While Silicon Valley remains its headquarters and spiritual home, it has built a formidable national practice, with particular strength on the West Coast through its additional offices in Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego, while its Austin (Texas), Washington DC and New York offices are also making considerable progress. On the global front, it has an intense focus on China, and in 2010 launched a new office in Hong Kong, to work alongside its well-established Shanghai branch. The firm also enhanced its life sciences and clean technology practices in 2010, when Michael Rabson rejoined the firm’s Palo Alto office after a spell as general counsel and senior vice president of Cytokinetics. Founding partner Larry Sonsini is the grandee of the growth market and continues to represent many Silicon Valley headquartered companies that have become global giants. Palo Alto-based chief executive officer Steven Bochner is also widely commended within the entrepreneurial and venture capital community. Jeffrey Saper is another senior name who has worked on a number of landmark deals, while David Segre has a ‘great reputation’, and founding partner of the Austin office Paul Tobias is a ‘great guy’ and a ‘great lawyer’.