Fenwick again received top nationwide recognition in Chambers USA. The 2020 guide singled out 29 Fenwick lawyers and 13 of the firm's practice areas for their excellence.
The firm again received the highest possible recognition from Chambers for its work with startups and emerging companies, with a Band One ranking nationwide. Fenwick is “the best in the business for a fast-moving startup," one client told Chambers. The firm also earned Band One ranking in California for venture capital, technology transactions and patent prosecution work.
Chambers describes Fenwick as a firm that “operates at the forefront of cutting-edge technology markets, including fintech, virtual reality and the sharing economy,” while also noting the firm’s “sought-after ability to counsel startup businesses, particularly in the tech sector, on the full extent of company growth processes, as well as advising venture capital investors.”
Clients and peers highlighted Fenwick’s practices—from corporate to intellectual property and litigation to tax—and shared positive feedback, including the following:
- "They give extremely practical advice and they're very persuasive writers. Everything I've received from them has been extremely polished. They have a great command of securities litigation and they explain the nuances really well." (Securities Litigation)
- "What differentiates the firm is its ability to work together. Their team does a very nice job with very dedicated service and a great technical skill set." (Capital Markets)
- Sources described Fenwick’s M&A group as “incredibly creative in dealing with complex M&A” and “a team that is strong and executes well for acquisitions of venture-based companies.” (M&A)
- “The best in the business for a fast-moving startup,” one client noted, with another source adding: “They are a really solid team that can mobilize and serve as needed.” (Startups & Emerging Companies)
- "They're very efficient, and the attorneys really understand the technology and know the right questions to ask. They're very helpful in advising on strategy and enforcement." (IP/IP Litigation)
- One client noted the firm's "super pragmatic team" made of "really high-caliber lawyers," adding: "They have a unique culture that enables them to retain phenomenal associates." (Capital Markets)
- "The support that we get from them is absolutely exceptional, and they bring a different perspective." (Life Sciences)
- "They are phenomenal," one client told Chambers USA, highlighting the "completeness and thoroughness they bring" and "their ability to bring calm to an adversarial situation in dealing with tax authorities." (Tax)
- "They are in full command of the legal materials, they take the time to learn the complex facts of a case and they are master tacticians when it comes to civil procedure and litigation." (IP/IP Litigation)
- "It is a first-rate team that provides excellent client service and access to the IRS. It is a great team, with great technical skills, that is really second to none.” (Tax)
Chambers USA bases their annual selection process on interviews with in-house legal departments and with industry leaders around the world. The rankings are based on technical legal ability, professional conduct, commitment, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence and other qualities valued by clients.
The full list of Fenwick practices and lawyers recognized in the 2020 Chambers USA guide is as follows:
Practice Categories
- Capital Markets: Debt & Equity
- Corporate/Commercial
- Corporate/M&A
- Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
- Intellectual Property
- IT & Outsourcing: Transactions
- Life Sciences
- Patent Prosecution
- Securities Litigation
- Startups & Emerging Companies
- Tax: Controversy
- Tax: Corporate & Finance
- Venture Capital
Lawyers
- Sally Abel – Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secrets
- Samuel Angus – Startups & Emerging Companies
- Andrew Bridges – Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secrets
- William Bromfield – Corporate/Commercial
- Douglas Cogen – Corporate/M&A
- Gordon Davidson – Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A, Startups & Emerging Companies, Venture Capital
- Michael Esquivel – Startups & Emerging Companies
- James Evans – Capital Markets
- David Forst – Tax
- Robert Freedman – Capital Markets
- James Fuller – Tax
- Stephen Graham – Corporate/Commercial
- Adam Halpern – Tax
- David Hayes – Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secrets; IT & Outsourcing: Transactions
- Cynthia Hess – Startups & Emerging Companies, Venture Capital
- James Koenig – Privacy & Data Security
- Steven Levine – Venture Capital
- Ariel Love – Tax
- Stuart Meyer – Intellectual Property
- Larissa Neumann – Tax
- Rajiv Patel – Patent Prosecution
- Stefano Quintini – Life Sciences
- Amanda Rose – Capital Markets
- Antonia Sequeira – Patent Prosecution
- Alan Smith – Corporate/Commercial
- Scott Spector – Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
- Mark Stevens – Startups & Emerging Companies, Venture Capital
- David Tellekson – Intellectual Property
- Kris Withrow – Corporate/M&A
In addition to Fenwick’s Chambers USA rankings, the firm also recently earned recognition from Chambers Global among the world’s leading law firms. Additional information is available through the Chambers website.
