Willkie Plants Flag in Bay Area, Hires 2 from Paul Hastings

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has hired two Paul Hastings corporate partners to open a Bay Area office where the firm hopes to expand offerings for tech clients.

Tiffany K. Lee and Matthew D. Berger will launch the Palo Alto office, and Lee will become managing partner, the firm announced today.

Both attorneys have significant experience representing technology companies in M&A deals, private equity financing, and IP issues.

The two partners will be joined by a group of M&A and private equity Willkie lawyers relocating from New York. The firm also plans to hire additional lateral associates and partners for the new office.

“We have a longstanding and extensive client base in Palo Alto, and California more generally. Finally opening up a physical presence there makes sense for our clients and our practice,” Willkie co-chair Gordon Caplan said in a statement.

Lee’s practice focuses on a wide variety of technology transactions for clients across tech industries, including software, cloud and other software-enabled services, life sciences, healthcare, electronics, semiconductor, and media and entertainment, according to the firm.

Berger, who led the technology transactions practice at Paul Hastings, focuses his practice on complex technology and commercial transactions and intellectual property counseling.

The Palo Alto office is Willkie Farr’s first West Coast location. The firm, which has 10 offices in six countries, most recently expanded to Houston, where it opened an office in 2014. That location, which focuses on M&A, private equity and finance in the energy sector, has since grown to 30 lawyers.

Willkie isn’t the only East Coast firm currently expanding into the Bay Area. In October, antitrust and IP boutique Axinn opened a San Francisco office in order to be closer to technology clients.