Fenwick & West LLP

Fenwick & West LLP
Name	Fenwick & West LLP
Founded	1972
Headquarters	San Francisco, California
Practice areas	Technology, Life Sciences, Venture Capital, Intellectual Property, Corporate

Fenwick & West LLP is a United States law firm known for advising Silicon Valley technology and biotechnology companies, venture capital firms, and public companies. Founded in 1972 in San Francisco by a group of attorneys, the firm developed deep ties to the Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley innovation ecosystems and the broader Silicon Valley startup community. Its attorneys regularly work on matters involving intellectual property litigation, securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and executive compensation connected to high-profile transactions in the NASDAQ and New York Stock Exchange arenas.

History

Fenwick was established in 1972 in San Francisco during a period of rapid change following the post-World War II technology boom and the rise of firms supporting startups around Silicon Valley. Early representation included emerging companies and investors linked to institutions such as Stanford Research Park and companies spun out of Lockheed Martin research programs and Fairchild Semiconductor alumni. Over subsequent decades the firm expanded its work to include biotech companies spun out of Genentech and research from University of California, San Francisco. In the 1980s and 1990s Fenwick attorneys participated in venture financings and initial public offerings that involved entities listed on NASDAQ and transactions with firms associated with Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins. The firm grew geographically with additional offices and developed capabilities in patent litigation related to disputes before bodies such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and administrative proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Practice Areas

Fenwick provides legal services across corporate and transactional matters including venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, and public offerings involving listings on NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange. The firm maintains a significant intellectual property practice handling patent prosecution, patent litigation in federal district courts such as the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Its life sciences practice advises companies in areas connected to biotechnology, pharmaceutical licensing, and collaborations with research institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology spinouts. Other practice groups address employment and executive compensation issues tied to securities rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission, privacy and data security work related to California Consumer Privacy Act, and tax matters involving the Internal Revenue Service. Fenwick’s litigation team has litigated in venues including the United States Supreme Court and state supreme courts.

Notable Clients and Deals

Fenwick has represented startups and public companies in transactions involving prominent venture firms such as Accel Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Benchmark. The firm has advised on IPOs and mergers for companies with ties to Google founders, Apple Inc. supply chains, and acquisitions by firms like Intel and Cisco Systems. It has been involved in venture financings and strategic transactions for companies originating from research at Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. Fenwick lawyers have worked on patent and licensing matters involving standards organizations and technology companies including disputes connected to Qualcomm, Broadcom, and Microsoft. The firm’s life sciences engagements include collaborations, licensing, and M&A involving entities with antecedents at Genentech and Amgen.

Offices and Global Presence

Headquartered in San Francisco, the firm operates multiple offices across the United States with strategic locations serving technology and life sciences markets. Fenwick’s offices connect with regional ecosystems such as the San Jose and Palo Alto innovation corridor as well as markets linked to New York City financial centers. Through alliances and cross-border work, Fenwick lawyers coordinate with international law firms handling cross-border mergers and patent enforcement in jurisdictions including the European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, and China—areas involving courts such as the High Court of Justice and patent offices like the European Patent Office.

Recognition and Rankings

Fenwick has received rankings and awards from legal industry publications and organizations including listings in annual surveys by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, and Vault. The firm and individual attorneys have been recognized for corporate, venture capital, and intellectual property practice areas by directories such as Best Lawyers, The American Lawyer, and Law360. Its patent litigators and corporate groups have been featured in analyses by Bloomberg Law and ranking lists compiled by American Lawyer Media for matters involving IPOs and high-stakes technology litigation.

Pro Bono and Corporate Social Responsibility

Fenwick maintains pro bono programs that include representation in matters before state trial courts, immigration-related litigation connected to petitions under Immigration and Nationality Act provisions, and nonprofit advising for organizations operating in fields such as technology education and public health. The firm’s lawyers have supported initiatives with institutions like Public Counsel and local bar associations, and participate in community partnerships tied to workforce development in regions near San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

Category:Law firms of the United States