24 Apr 2008
Four Leading Partners join DLA Piper’s Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice
Team of Experienced Lawyers Bolsters Firm’s Capabilities in Key Strategic Area
Press Release
(San Diego) – DLA Piper announced today that Michael Kagnoff, Martin Nichols, Jeffrey Thacker and Ross Burningham – all well known and highly regarded corporate lawyers in San Diego – have joined the firm’s San Diego office as partners in the Corporate and Finance practice group. The attorneys join DLA Piper from Heller Ehrman, LLP.
“DLA Piper is already one of the world’s leading firms advising emerging growth companies and venture capital firms. The addition of these talented lawyers is a significant boost to our practice in San Diego and throughout the region,” said J. Terence O’Malley, DLA Piper U.S. Managing Partner. “Mike, Jeffrey, Ross and Martin are among the most highly regarded corporate lawyers in their field in Southern California, and their experience will be an invaluable resource to our clients in the growing San Diego office and to our corporate operations around the globe.”
Advancing DLA Piper’s Growth Strategy
The arrival of the lateral group in San Diego comes on the heels of the firm’s opening of a new Houston office. In recent weeks, the firm also announced a new corporate partner, Michael Bolton, in Houston.
“We continue to attract leading lawyers across all our key markets and strategic areas,” said Jay Rains, Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Global Corporate and Finance Practice Group. “This group brings a wealth of experience that will undoubtedly contribute to our already solid corporate platform in Southern California. We are committed to being the world’s leading global business law firm. The addition of this group further strengthens our ability to advise venture capital firms, and emerging and mature companies throughout the region.”
The arriving group brings with them a broad and diverse base of experience with a long history of corporate counsel in Southern California.
"We all are appreciative of the support we received at Heller and wish our former colleagues nothing but the best,” said incoming partner Mike Kagnoff. “At the same time, we are extremely excited about the opportunities that DLA Piper and its global platform brings to our ability to provide the highest quality service to our life sciences, technology and emerging growth clients."
DLA Piper’s Corporate and Finance practice includes more than 800 lawyers worldwide. Last year, the firm ranked 3rd globally in venture capital and private equity deals, based on 761 transactions worldwide (according to
Private Equity Analyst, 2008). DLA Piper lawyers advise both emerging and mature companies around the world on a full range of corporate transactions, including debt and equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, in addition to corporate governance, IT, tax, compensation and technology issues.
About the Lawyers
- Mike Kagnoff focuses his practice on general corporate representation of established and emerging biotech, medical device and healthcare services companies. He has extensive experience in public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing, strategic partnerships and licensing agreements. Kagnoff has represented some of California’s most prominent venture funds for their investments in portfolio companies.
He received a J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. He also received a B.A. and a B.S., summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.
- Martin Nichols, formerly a member of Heller Ehrman’s firm management committee for cleantech, has a corporate practice with a focus on emerging growth and established technology companies in the cleantech, software, telecommunications and medical device industries. He has extensive experience with venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, strategic collaborations, initial and follow-on public offerings, securities law, technology transfers and licensing. He has represented a wide variety of companies, venture capital firms and investment banks.
He received a J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law and a B.A., magna cum laude, from Brigham Young University.
- Jeffrey Thacker has a corporate and securities law practice with a focus on public offerings, private placements, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions and restructurings. He has represented a wide variety of companies ranging from start-up and emerging growth companies to investment banks, venture capital and private equity firms. He has extensive experience in the representation of technology companies, particularly in the medical device, software and information systems sectors. He also has experience in technology licensing and corporate partnering transactions.
He received a J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law and a B.S., magna cum laude, from Brigham Young University.
- Ross Burningham focuses on corporate and securities law with an emphasis on representation of emerging growth technology companies. He also has extensive experience representing venture capital investors and investment banking firms. Burningham has managed a broad range of major business transactions for these entities, including private placements and public offerings; mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs; joint ventures and other strategic collaborations; and commercial transactions, such as bank credit lines and lease lines. He has been counsel to companies in the biotechnology, communications, hardware, healthcare, Internet, medical device, software and telecommunications industries. These companies range from start-ups to established public companies.
He received a J.D., Bringham Young University, J. Rueben Clark Law School cum laude, M. Acc. Tax and a B.S. from Brigham Young University.
About DLA PiperDLA Piper has 3,700 lawyers in 25 countries and 64 offices throughout the US, UK, Continental Europe, Middle East and Asia. It has leading practices in corporate, finance, human resources, litigation, real estate, regulatory and legislative, tax, and technology, media and communications. Former Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell is chairman of DLA Piper. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.
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CONTACTS:
Eva Van Brunt, Media Relations, DLA Piper, 213.330.7730
Ted Mills, Media Relations, GreenTarget Global Group, 424.208.3171
Kristen Griffin, Media Relations, GreenTarget Global Group, 312.252.4107