Gordon K. Davidson

650-335-7237
gdavidson@fenwick.com
Partner Emeritus
Corporate

Gordon K.
Davidson

Gordon K.
Davidson

Gordon K.
Davidson

Partner Emeritus
Corporate

Gordon advises high technology companies, clean technology and life sciences companies. Gordy’s clients range from startups to Fortune 100 companies. He has worked on over 60 public offerings and has represented boards of directors, audit committees and executives in numerous special investigations.

He has also acted as lead counsel on over 100 mergers and acquisitions valued at more than $75B in the aggregate, including:

  • $19B acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook
  • $17B acquisition by VeriSign of Network Solutions
  • $13B acquisition by Symantec of Veritas Software in 2005 and the sale of Veritas by Symantec in 2015
  • $6.9B acquisition by Cisco Systems of Scientific-Atlanta
  • $6.5B acquisition by Exodus Communications of GlobalCenter
  • $4B merger of Spansion with Cypress Semiconductor
  • $3.75B acquisition of SuccessFactors by SAP
  • $3.4B acquisition of Macromedia by Adobe
  • $3B acquisition of Giant Interactive Group by a private equity sponsor-backed consortium (counsel to special committee)
  • $2.5B acquisition by VERITAS Software of Seagate Software
  • $2.4B acquisition of Data Domain by EMC
  • $1.78B acquisition of Spreadtrum Communications by Tsinghua Unigroup
  • $1.4B acquisition of Elantec by Intersil
  • $1.4B acquisition by Intuit of Digital Insight
  • $1.2B acquisition of Ocular Sciences by The Cooper Companies
  • $1B going-private acquisition of Zhaopin (China) by a private equity sponsor-backed consortium (counsel to special committee)
  • $930M going-private acquisition of eHi Car Services' (China) by a private equity sponsor-backed consortium (counsel to special committee)

Gordy has spoken on current issues in capital formation and IPOs at the PLI and Northwestern Securities Regulation Institutes and on governance issues at the Stanford Directors College, taught courses on Venture Capital and Mergers & Acquisitions at Stanford Law School, and chaired the Practising Law Institute programs on Private Placements and Mergers & Acquisitions of High Technology Companies. He is a member of the American College of Governance Counsel and has served on the boards of directors of non-profit organizations, including BayBio, Children’s Health Council, Pacific Community Ventures and Fresh Lifelines for Youth.

Prior to and during law school, Gordy worked as a computer systems engineer at Stanford Research Institute and at Measurex. Following law school, he was a law clerk for Judge Ben C. Duniway in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

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    Gordy "is one of the veterans of Silicon Valley. He is good at resolving conflicts and making peace when needed — he is brought in for those situations."

    Chambers USA, Client Quote

    2021 Edition

    Recognition Recognition Recognition

    Recognition Recognition Recognition

    Recognition
    The American Lawyer

    2023

    Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership

    Chambers Global

    2000-2004 & 2006-2024

    • A leading lawyer in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity: Western United States
    • A leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A (International & Cross-Border)
    Chambers USA

    2012-2024

    • A Star Individual in Venture Capital in California (2013 – 2023)
    • First tier nationally in Startups and Emerging Companies (2016 – 2023)
    • A leading lawyer in Capital Markets in California and the Western United States (2013 – 2024)
    • A leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A in Northern California (2012 – 2024)
    U.S. News - Best Lawyers

    1993-2022

    Among the best lawyers in America for corporate law, venture capital, technology, securities/capital markets, securities regulation, leveraged buyouts and private equity.

    The Legal 500

    2019-2024

    • M&A Powerlist: United States (2024)
    • Recognized among the United States' key lawyers for capital markets work (2022)
    • A Hall of Fame lawyer for venture capital and emerging companies (2022)
    • Highlighted among the United States’ leading lawyers for capital markets work and M&A Corporate/Commercial work (2020)
    • A Hall of Fame lawyer (2019)
    The National Law Journal

    2000, 2006, 2013

    One of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America

    Lawdragon

    2024

    Recognized Gordon as one of the 500 Leading Dealmakers in America.

    • Inducted into the Dealmaker Hall of Fame by Lawdragon (2023)
    • "Corporate Lawyer of the Year" for the Silicon Valley by Best Lawyers (2009 and 2013)
    • “Securities Lawyer of the Year” for the San Francisco Area by Best Lawyers (2010 and 2014)
    • One of the 10 best corporate lawyers in California by California Lawyer magazine (August 2004)
    • One of a dozen lawyers named to the AlwaysOn Power Players West list (2011)
    • One of the Top 25 Biotech Lawyers in California by the Daily Journal (2011)
    • One of the top 100 venture capital deal makers by Forbes magazine’s Midas List (2001 and 2004 – 2007)
    • One of the top 100 lawyers in California by the Daily Journal (2012 – 2016)
    • One of three leading lawyers in Silicon Valley by SuperLawyers magazine (2008)
    • One of "100 People Who Changed Our World" by Upside magazine (October 2001)
    • Named to the “Global Silicon Valley Hall of Fame” (2016)

    Recognition
    The American Lawyer

    2023

    Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership

    Chambers Global

    2000-2004 & 2006-2024

    • A leading lawyer in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity: Western United States
    • A leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A (International & Cross-Border)

    Chambers USA

    2012-2024

    • A Star Individual in Venture Capital in California (2013 – 2023)
    • First tier nationally in Startups and Emerging Companies (2016 – 2023)
    • A leading lawyer in Capital Markets in California and the Western United States (2013 – 2024)
    • A leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A in Northern California (2012 – 2024)

    U.S. News - Best Lawyers

    1993-2022

    Among the best lawyers in America for corporate law, venture capital, technology, securities/capital markets, securities regulation, leveraged buyouts and private equity.

    The Legal 500

    2019-2024

    • M&A Powerlist: United States (2024)
    • Recognized among the United States' key lawyers for capital markets work (2022)
    • A Hall of Fame lawyer for venture capital and emerging companies (2022)
    • Highlighted among the United States’ leading lawyers for capital markets work and M&A Corporate/Commercial work (2020)
    • A Hall of Fame lawyer (2019)

    The National Law Journal

    2000, 2006, 2013

    One of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America

    Lawdragon

    2024

    Recognized Gordon as one of the 500 Leading Dealmakers in America.