Firm Profiles
IN-DEPTH RESEARCH REPORT
on Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation
- - Financial Information
- - Compensation
- - Billing Rates
- - Lateral Partner Moves
- - Pro bono
- - Key Contacts
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
- Designation: Palo Alto
- Head Count: 605
- Gross Revenues: $539,000,000
- Revenue Per Lawyer: $890,000
- Profits Per Partner: $1,645,000
- Year Over Year Change: 1
Pick one of Silicon Valley’s game–changing technology companies, and there’s a good chance that Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has advised it. Unlike other firms that were already established elsewhere when they discovered Palo Alto, Wilson was founded, and came of age, right in the heart of America’s biggest tech center. It has been the go–to law firm—and its chairman, Larry Sonsini, the go–to lawyer—for many of technology’s superstars, from Sun Microsystems and Apple Computer to Google and LinkedIn. Wilson has had its hand in many of the Valley’s key mergers and acquisitions (including Hewlett–Packard’s merger with Compaq Computer), licensing deals, and intellectual property disputes.
Wilson is notable, too, not just for working with start–ups, but investing in them. Its venture capital arm, WS Investments, was an innovative concept when it was launched in the late 1970s, and would later be emulated by a number of other firms. Still, the funds have been controversial: Not everyone (including many of the big East Coast firms) has bought Wilson’s contention that there is no conflict of interest in investing in clients. What isn’t in dispute is that some of the bets paid off—and handsomely. A $72,000 investment in Google ballooned to $28 million a year after the company went public. Indeed, during the dot–com boom, Wilson partners could make more from investments than from legal work.
Of course, being so tied to the tech sector, Wilson has seen its fortunes soar and flag along with the industry’s. The attorney roster, too, was hit hard once the bubble burst. Wilson’s lawyer count was nearly 800 in 2000—a number it has yet to reach again (it was getting close, with well over 600 lawyers, when the more recent financial crisis spurred the layoffs of several dozen associates in 2009).
Wilson now has 11 offices, many in other high–tech regions, like Austin and Seattle. It is also a leading firm in terms of diversity, ranking first on The American Lawyer’s 2011 Diversity Scorecard. Innovation, after all, isn’t just limited to technology and business models.
—Updated as of 1/1/12
Firm Rankings
| Survey | Rank | Year Over Year Change | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Am Law 100 | 58 | 1 | Gross revenue |
| Am Law 200 | 58 | 1 | Gross revenue |
| NLJ 250 | 65 | 2 | Lawyer head count |
| The A-List | 37 | 7 | Overall excellence |
| Pro Bono Scorecard | 80 | 6 | Pro-bono commitment |
| Diversity Scorecard | 2 | 1 | Minority head count |
| Midlevel Associates Survey | 118 | 19 | Job satisfaction |
| Summer Associates Survey | 27 | 4 | Summer programs |
In the News
Manatt Investment Fund Lands on 'Silicon Beach'
Amanda Bronstad : The National Law Journal : May 20, 2013
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips has launched a division to counsel clients on business opportunities associated with digital media based in Los Angeles' "Silicon Beach." Moreover, the firm has hired an entrepreneur to run its own venture capital fund, which will invest in emerging technology companies.
The Score: Dentons Partner Doubles as Fantasy Sports Pro
Brian Baxter : The Am Law Daily : May 17, 2013
Like many lawyers, Glenn Colton is a baseball fan. But the Dentons white-collar and government investigations practice head has taken his love for America's national pastime to the next level, scoring his own fantasy baseball column and SiriusXM radio show. In June, Colton will be inducted into the Fantasy Sports Trade Association's Hall of Fame. Also: Covington advises the U.S. Open on a new $770 million TV deal with ESPN and Bracewell & Giuliani and Loeb & Loeb get involved in two high-profile memorabilia fights in our regular look at sports and the law.
Asia Deal Digest: May 16, 2013
Tom Brennan : The Asian Lawyer : May 16, 2013
* Davis Polk on a $4 billion bond offering for China's CNOOC* Allen & Overy advising Sinopec Engineering on its $2.7 billion IPO* Four Wall Street firms take on AsiaInfo-Linkage's $890 million take-private deal
Fenwick Sets Course for China
Julia Love : The Recorder : May 16, 2013
Fenwick & West has hired Covington & Burling's Eva Wang as a corporate partner to lay the groundwork for an office in Shanghai -- the Silicon Valley firm's first overseas. Fenwick has felt a great pull to China in recent years as its clients' activity has compelled the creation of new resources to serve them, said firm chair Gordon Davidson.
Manatt Investment Fund Lands on 'Silicon Beach'
Amanda Bronstad : The National Law Journal : May 15, 2013
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips has launched a division to counsel clients on business opportunities associated with digital media based in Los Angeles' "Silicon Beach." Moreover, the firm has hired an entrepreneur to run its own venture capital fund, which will invest in emerging technology companies.
Fenwick & West Plans Shanghai Launch
Tom Brennan : The Asian Lawyer : May 14, 2013
The Silicon Valley firm has recruited Covington & Burling partner Eva Wang to spearhead a China office, which will be its first outside the U.S.
Surging U.S. IPO Market Yields Gains for Cooley, Hunton
Brian Baxter : The Am Law Daily : May 14, 2013
U.S. companies have already raised $16.8 billion through initial public offerings so far this year and several Am Law 100 firms are reaping the benefits.
In Executive's Trade Secret Prosecution, A Company's Outsized Role
Vanessa Blum : The Recorder : May 14, 2013
The trial of executive recruiter David Nosal for computer hacking and theft of trade secrets drew attention from many quarters.
Fenwick Sets Course for China
Julia Love : The Recorder : May 13, 2013
Righthaven Loses Copyright Argument at Ninth Circuit
Max Taves : The Recorder : May 9, 2013
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