PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, today announced that it has elected 13 new partners from its attorney ranks. The promotions will become effective on February 1, 2016.
"This is a highly accomplished group of lawyers who have demonstrated excellence and professionalism in all they do," said Doug Clark, the firm's co-managing partner. "In addition, they're outstanding leaders, mentors, and colleagues within our firm. We're very proud to welcome them as partners."
The 2016 partners-elect are:
Erik Franks, Corporate and Securities. Based in Palo Alto, Franks has extensive experience in a variety of securities offerings and debt and derivative transactions, including offerings of convertible notes, high-yield notes, and investment-grade notes; secured and unsecured bank financings; and call spread transactions, accelerated stock repurchases, foreign exchange derivatives, interest rate swaps, and commodity derivatives. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2006.
Nicole Gambino, Energy & Infrastructure Finance. Based in San Francisco, Gambino specializes in renewable energy and project finance and, in particular, related tax matters. She represents both equity investors and developers in the financing of wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass facilities, utilizing a variety of structures. Gambino also represents investors in new market tax credit transactions. She earned her J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 2006.
TJ Graham, Intellectual Property. Based in Palo Alto, Graham focuses on technology-driven commercial transactions, specializing in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, digital media, and information technology. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2006.
Jeana Kim, Corporate and Securities. Based in Seattle, Kim handles corporate and securities law matters for emerging growth companies, venture capital firms, and public companies. She represents clients in connection with venture capital financings, public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate law and governance matters. Kim earned her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2004.
Sriram Krishnamurthy, Employee Benefits & Compensation. Based in New York, Krishnamurthy focuses on the representation of private and public technology and growth companies with respect to executive compensation and employee benefits matters. He received an LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law in 2007 and earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2006.
Lou Lieto, Intellectual Property. Based in Washington, D.C., Lieto concentrates on patent prosecution, licensing, strategic patent counseling, mergers and acquisitions, global generics, and IP due diligence in a variety of fields, including biologics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, clean energy, diagnostics, embryonic stem cells, medical devices, transgenic animals, and gene therapy. He received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in 2008 and a Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky in 2001.
Douglas Portnow, Intellectual Property. Based in Palo Alto, Portnow focuses his practice on patent prosecution and counseling. He regularly works with inventors to prepare new patent applications and draft amendments in response to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office actions. Portnow is also experienced in patentability, validity, and freedom-to-operate studies. He received his J.D. from the University of New Hampshire School of Law in 2005.
Jennifer Schmidt, Litigation. Based in San Francisco, Schmidt specializes in patent litigation, with a particular focus on defending technology companies against claims of patent infringement. Her practice encompasses a wide range of technological fields, including computer hardware and software, video compression, smartphone apps, network security, search algorithms, and consumer products. Schmidt received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 2006.
Douglas Schnell, Corporate and Securities. Based in Palo Alto, Schnell focuses on shareholder activism and corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate advisory work. He has extensive experience assisting companies with shareholder activism, challenges to corporate control, and governance matters. Schnell has represented acquirers, targets, and investment banks in a number of significant U.S. and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, leveraged buyouts, and other corporate matters. He received his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 2005.
Amy Simmerman, Corporate and Securities. Based in Wilmington, Simmerman provides clients with advice on Delaware corporate law, including with regard to fiduciary duties, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, defensive measures, advancement and indemnification, dissolution and liquidation, and statutory requirements and issues. In addition, she has experience with special committee assignments and internal investigations. Simmerman received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2007.
Jason Skolnik, Corporate and Securities. Based in San Diego, Skolnik has a broad corporate and securities practice that includes mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings, joint ventures, corporate finance, and corporate advisory work. He represents companies in a wide variety of industries, including biotech, medical device, and media and entertainment. Skolnik received his J.D. from Loyola Law School in 2004.
Jeff VanHooreweghe, Antitrust. Based in San Francisco, VanHooreweghe focuses his practice on all aspects of antitrust law, including criminal grand jury investigations, civil investigations, private litigation, merger clearance, and compliance counseling. He has extensive experience advising clients on a variety of different matters before federal agencies and courts both in the United States and abroad. VanHooreweghe received his J.D. from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in 2001.
Jie Zhu, Corporate and Securities. Based in Shanghai, Zhu represents corporations and private equity funds in a wide range of complex domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, spin-offs, and going-private and capital markets transactions. His experience spans a variety of industries, including healthcare, technology, consumer products and services, telecommunications, transportation, energy, and media and entertainment. Zhu received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2006.
About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
For more than 50 years, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has offered a broad range of services and legal disciplines focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leader in the fields of corporate governance and finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities litigation, employment law, intellectual property, and antitrust, among many other areas of law. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has offices in Austin; Beijing; Brussels; Hong Kong; Los Angeles; New York; Palo Alto; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Shanghai; Washington, D.C.; and Wilmington, DE. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.
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