The White Sandal Elite: The Go-To Law Firms For Silicon Valley
A handy primer to some of the top firms serving this unique market.
Reviving our longstanding exploration of leading firms in legal markets across the country, today we kick off our monthly “Go-To Law Firms” series with a look at some of the top firms that serve Silicon Valley.
The fabled cradle of venture capitalists and visionaries in flip flops and hoodies, Silicon Valley remains a hub for technology and innovation. In a market that includes brand-name giants as well as brand-new startups in fields ranging from fintech to biotech, the legal issues also run a wide gamut and require attorneys who can handle the latest legal developments in a rapidly changing regulatory, social, and technological landscape.
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Our go-to list includes some of the region’s best-known law firms, along with practices whose roots may be elsewhere but whose legal expertise helps Bay Area businesses thrive. These 15 firms are primed to serve the needs and goals of the investors, the creators, the players, and the dreamers who call Silicon Valley home.
1. Best Firm to Tell You What to Do with Your Bored Ape: DLA Piper
While the initial excitement over NFTs may have cooled in the last couple of years, now that major companies are integrating them into their branding strategies, their use will likely continue to evolve. Even if most people still don’t understand what they are, the lawyers at DLA Piper certainly do. When you’re dealing with the latest trendy digital asset, these are the lawyers you want on your side. They created their Blockchain and Digital Asset practice in 2019, and since then have built deep knowledge in the area. Whenever the next big thing comes out, you can be sure they’ll be able to advise you on whether or not to invest.
2. Best Firm to Help Keep the Hackers at Bay: Gibson Dunn
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Data privacy and cybersecurity rank among the top concerns of companies these days, especially as cyberattacks have increased during the pandemic. Gibson Dunn’s interdisciplinary Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group offers a deep bench of experience in the area, counting former U.S. attorneys, computer crimes prosecutors, and senior government officials among its ranks. From advising Silicon Valley companies on internal cybersecurity policies to handling high-stakes privacy litigation, Gibson Dunn can handle any data privacy and security issue you throw their way.
3. Best Firm for Navigating the Complexities of the Healthcare Industry: Hogan Lovells
With over 500 healthcare and life sciences attorneys around the world, including several in the Silicon Valley office, Hogan Lovells is home to one of the most comprehensive healthcare law practices in the country. Whether you’re just breaking into the life sciences market with a new product or are a global healthcare organization, this firm has you covered. From gene therapies and medical devices to clinical trials and pharmaceuticals, Hogan Lovells is ahead of the curve when it comes to the ever-changing world of life sciences and health law.
4. Best Firm When You’re Trying to Combat Climate Change: Perkins Coie
The statutory and regulatory framework of environmental law is constantly changing, and Perkins Coie is on top of it. With over 100 environmental and natural resources attorneys on staff, including several in Palo Alto and San Francisco, the firm has deep experience in handling even the most complex and novel environmental issues. Their key areas of expertise run the gamut, including environmental compliance, remediation of contaminated properties, environmental litigation, legislation in industries like technology and cleantech, and more.
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5. Best Firm to Help You Defeat Class Certification: Sheppard Mullin
When it comes to defending bet-the-company class action lawsuits, they don’t get much better than Sheppard Mullin. Their strategic approach has helped many a client defeat class action suits altogether or structure highly favorable settlements, but their class action work doesn’t end there. The firm’s class action lawyers also routinely counsel clients on legal issues that are common in the class action arena and appear before federal and state regulatory bodies. Their class action representation has touched nearly every major industry, so you really can’t go wrong.
6. The Best Firm to Help Make Sure You’re Not Perpetuating the Gender Pay Gap: Seyfarth Shaw
Between remote work issues raised by the pandemic and increased focus on ensuring pay equity, employment law concerns are a top priority these days. Seyfarth Shaw is widely recognized as an innovator in the area, being one of the first firms to have an exclusive employment law practice. Today they have more than 100 labor and employment attorneys in California alone. The firm also has a dedicated Pay Equity Group that has devoted two decades to helping companies implement fair pay practices and mitigate employment risk.
7. Best Firm to Deal with Those Pesky Investigators: Quinn Emanuel
Investigations and criminal claims can seriously derail a company. Litigation powerhouse Quinn Emanuel’s global investigations, government enforcement, and white collar criminal defense practice is as respected as they come. Their extensive expertise with government investigations stems from having an impressive roster of former federal prosecutors and high-ranking government lawyers on staff. Unsurprisingly, this deep understanding of the system has benefitted countless high-profile clients in sensitive government investigations and white collar litigation matters.
8. The Best Firm to Guide You Through the Metaverse: Morrison Foerster
Whether we like it or not, social media is here to stay, and there’s no better firm than MoFo to help you navigate it. Widely recognized as the go-to firm for all things social media, the lawyers at MoFo are experts on counseling clients in the commercial realities of social media and the complex legal, regulatory, and policy issues it poses. Whether you need to develop a corporate social media policy or want advice on the privacy or liability implications of your social media activities, this is the firm you want on your friends list. They even publish the award-winning Socially Aware blog to help clients stay on top of emerging legal developments in the area.
9. Best Firm for When You’re Sure You’ve Invented the Latest Tech Trend: Wilson Sonsini
Wilson Sonsini traces its roots in Silicon Valley to 1961, so it should be no surprise that they understand the legal issues facing the area’s technology innovators and high-growth companies better than anyone. To date, the firm has advised thousands of entrepreneurs and startups looking to create the next big thing. Wilson Sonsini’s Emerging Companies Practice has even launched Neuron, a platform that automates the entire startup journey from incorporation through termination and allows direct, digitized collaboration with the client’s legal team at the firm.
10. Best Firm for When You See Your Name in Lights: Loeb & Loeb
Widely recognized as having one of the country’s premier entertainment and media practices, Loeb & Loeb’s interdisciplinary team of highly experienced lawyers covers the spectrum of niche areas in the field, from classics like TV, music, and sports, to newer trends in streaming and interactive media. Decades of industry experience have given the firm’s lawyers the connections and expertise you need to not only thrive but also explore new mediums and pursue cross-sector expansion.
11. Best Firm to Help You Rock the Vote: Fenwick & West
Voting rights is a hot-button issue, particularly since the 2020 election. While there may not be a lot of money in it, Fenwick & West sees protecting voting rights and access to justice as its civic duty. That’s why they’ve devoted a good portion of their admirably high pro bono hours to protecting voting rights. The firm has served as counsel to notable voter rights organizations and in 2016 hosted Silicon Valley’s first Election Protection call center, which they’ve continued to do every two years since.
12. Best Firm for Finding the Castle with the Princess: Tyz Law Group
Video games and law firms might not seem like the most likely combination, but gamers will feel right at home at Tyz Law Group. The boutique litigation and IP counseling firm is made up of senior technology lawyers, many of whom are refugees from Biglaw. They’ve even managed to steal top lawyers from some of the other notable games practices in the area. With a whole area of expertise devoted to games law and a Games Blog devoted to providing legal insights to games industry professionals, there’s no question that they’re running the best game in town.
13. Best Firm for When You Need the Dopest Lawyers in Town: Goodwin
Cannabis law is one of the hottest new practice areas today, and few firms do it better than Goodwin. The firm’s cross-disciplinary group of cannabis lawyers, including some heavy hitters in the Silicon Valley office, offers expertise in all areas of law impacting those involved in the cannabis industry. Whether you’re just getting into the industry and looking to secure funding, are an established cannabis business involved in litigation, or somewhere in between, Goodwin has the resources and know-how to guide you through the cannabis law landscape as it continues to evolve.
14. Best Firm for When You Can’t Tell Your Dogecoin from Your Ripple: Cooley
It’s hard to find a law firm that knows more about cryptocurrency and all things blockchain than Cooley. The firm’s lawyers provided legal counsel to the very first Bitcoin companies, and today they have a dedicated Blockchain Technology & Tokenization practice group, which counts several Palo Alto attorneys among its ranks. Not only has Cooley advised some of the biggest names in the blockchain business, they’re also regularly called upon by Congress and regulators to provide legal analysis and industry intelligence in this burgeoning area of law.
15. Best Firm to Help You Prove That Unicorns Are Real: Gunderson Dettmer
Gunderson Dettmer was one of the first firms to dedicate its practice to VC investors and startup companies, and they’ve honed their expertise in the area for more than 25 years. Today, the firm advises nearly every leading venture capital brand in the world and over 500 venture capital managers. The firm represents companies as well as VC investors, funds, and firms, which gives it a 360-degree perspective on capital-raising transactions. When you’re looking for that sweet, sweet VC money, Gunderson Dettmer is the firm to call.
