The additions reflect Wilson Sonsini’s focus on the needs of UK and European technology companies
Wilson Sonsini’s unique story in London: Building an integrated, US/UK qualified, transatlantic team with experience in areas that help UK and European technology companies compete and win globally.
In the year After opening in London in 2018, Wilson Sonsini continues to lead Silicon Valley-style business interest, strategic and legal advice to UK and European technology companies in their local geographies.
Palo Alto, California, January 17, 2023-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, a leading provider of legal services to technology, life sciences and growth enterprises, announced today. Flower Benns, Sarah LaneAnd Martin Luff He joined the firm as a partner in the London office. The addition reflects the growth of Wilson Sonsini in London, where the firm has expanded its London-based service offering to include employee incentives and benefits (Benns), tax (Len) and employment (Luff).
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Fleur Bains, Partner, Wilson Sonsini (Photo: Business Wire)
The combination of new practice areas and Wilson Sonsini’s existing US and UK corporate and regulatory capabilities means the firm now has an integrated, US/UK-qualified, transatlantic deal team under one roof and one brand in London, with core strategic capabilities. UK and European technology companies need to grow their businesses successfully.
In the year Since opening in London in 2018, Wilson Sonsini has expanded by adding talented transatlantic-focused lawyers who apply their global experience to support the growth of UK and European technology companies – from start-up, expansion and capital raising to M&A, IPO or otherwise – particularly the US expansion of UK and European technology companies. , with a focus on fundraising and/or exploring exits. The firm has a strong presence in London’s tech ecosystem – and in other UK and European markets – for tech companies with transatlantic transformation ambitions.
Originally starting its London office with one US partner and a handful of professionals, Wilson Sonsini now has 38 London-based US, UK and dual US/UK qualified lawyers – including 11 partners – for a total of around 50 London staff.
“Our decision to open in London was driven by market demand for the unique legal and strategic business advice that is the hallmark of Silicon Valley,” he said. Doug ClarkManaging Partner at Wilson Sonsini said: “Since then, the market demand in London is why we’ve grown, through the consistent and strategic additions of talented lawyers like Fleur, Sarah and Martin. That’s why we’ve added core skills, like them, UK and European technologies. Firms are growing their businesses successfully. They want it and they need it – and we have it all in one office at Wilson Sonsini’s unique brand.”
Flower Benns Since 2018, she has been a Legal Director in the Share Schemes and Incentives Group at Pinsent Masons LLP. She has more than 20 years of experience as a specialist employee incentives and benefits attorney, with specialized experience and expertise in the technology and life sciences sectors. Incentives for US companies to buy and invest in the UK. She has advised on the implementation of equity and share schemes and existing arrangements for public and private companies including private equity and investment capital investors. Previously, she worked closely with the firm’s teams on investment and M&A transaction support at her companies. Prior to joining Pinsent Mason, Benns worked as a legal director in the specialist employee incentives and benefits group at Bird & Bird LLP from 2010 to 2018. Prior to that, she was a senior associate at Baker McKenzie from 2007 to 2009. Associate at Taylor Wessing LLP from 2001 to 2007; and from 1997 to 2001 she was an associate and intern at Olswang LLP. She received her undergraduate degree from King’s College, University of London and her legal qualifications from the College of Law. She is admitted to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Sarah Lane He was previously a senior tax consultant in Simpson Thatcher’s London office. At Simpson, she led tax practice on numerous M&A and capital markets transactions. She has worked in both law firms and tax consultancies, including 12 years as a partner at a Big 4 firm working with international tax and M&A in a variety of sectors from tech to capital markets. Her experience includes providing tax advice in the venture capital, M&A, private equity, and fund formation areas and handling major international transactions, as well as advising clients on tax disputes. She especially enjoys working with her early stage clients to establish and grow their businesses. Her past experience includes academic time at the University of Leeds. She received her MA from Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford and trained and qualified as a solicitor with Linklaters in London. She is admitted to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Martin Luff He is a qualified US and UK employment lawyer and advises clients on a range of UK, US and international employment matters. He was previously a consultant in the London office of Vinson & Elkins for the past seven years. From 2009 to 2015, he was based in the Houston office of Vinson & Elkins. He has extensive experience in the employment aspects of business transactions. He also advises clients on day-to-day UK and US human resources and HR matters, including employment and consultancy agreements, international staff transfers and expatriate arrangements, disciplinary and performance matters, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants, redundancies and collective redundancies, senior employment Executive Terminations and Employment Disputes. Luff joined Vinson & Elkins in 2009 from the international consulting firm ERM, where he served as in-house counsel in Houston and London. In the year He started his career in 2002 as a trainee, then recruitment associate, at the UK company Travers Smith, where he worked until 2007. The LL.M. from the University of Texas School of Law, his LPC in Law from Nottingham Law School, and a BA with Honors from the University of Nottingham. Admitted to practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales and in Texas.
Wilson Sonsini’s London team He has advised a number of prominent, high-growth UK- and European-based technology companies on significant transatlantic financing and exit transactions since opening his office in 2018. , Oxbotica, Picon, Stability AI, TrueLayer and WaveOptics. During the same time frame, the firm’s London-led US expansion team advised more than 1,000 UK and other European startups on setting up and expanding US operations.
“It’s not just the US-UK dynamic in technology. Special Relationship – it is. Important relationship. There are more unicorns in the UK than anywhere else in Europe, and most companies have raised capital from US venture and growth capital investors, he said. Daniel GlaserManaging Partner of Wilson Sonsini’s London office. In the year Since its launch in London in 2018, we’ve heard loudly from the market that UK and European technology companies want an integrated US-UK service offering free from the friction of choice of governing law, time zones and different market regulations. Our US/UK qualified London team – supported by lawyers with a unique cross-border focus in our 14 US offices – provides transatlantic support for UK and European technology companies to compete and win in the US and internationally.
About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati
For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini’s services and legal practices have focused on serving the core challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is recognized nationally as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions. Managing administrative and corporate level issues; Assistance in intellectual property development, protection and IP-based transactions; They represent them in disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has 19 offices in technology and business centers. For more information please visit www.wsgr.com.
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Quotes of new partners
“Joining Wilson Sonsini gives me the opportunity to contribute to the company’s legacy by working with prominent technology and life sciences clients,” he said. Flower BennsShe focuses her practice on employee motivation and benefits. “I look forward to working with the firm’s team in London and helping technology and life sciences clients in the UK and Europe who want to compete and win in the US and globally.”
“Wilson Sonsini has an impressive and unique brand that has grown through a long history of representing innovative companies,” he said. Sarah LaneShe focuses her practice on corporate tax matters. “The company has a unique position in London because it really focuses on technology clients and now has an integrated, dual-skilled, transatlantic team.”
“I share the collaborative, Silicon Valley-inspired spirit you find in the company’s London office and across the organization,” he said. Martin LuffOne who focuses his work on work matters. “This type of collaboration and approach is valued by our clients and helps make Wilson Sonsini unique. The corporate practice is extensive, and I am delighted to be part of a cohesive, bi-skilled, transatlantic team in London. UK and European entrepreneurs need to grow their companies.” Has core strategic skills.
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Number of heads [Totals below are as of 01/09/2023.]
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Contacts
Wayne Kessler
Barretts + Brunel
732.239.9710 Mobile
wkessler@baretzbrunelle.com
