Although the San Diego office of Morrison & Foerster LLP opened six months ago, the staff has already doubled and more growth is expected in the coming weeks.
Based in San Francisco, the firm considered opening an office locally for several years, according to Mark W. Danis, managing partner for Morrison & Foerster’s San Diego office.
Commonly known as Morrison & Foerster, the international law firm decided to open an office in San Diego last year due to the rapid growth of technology companies, he said.
Located in Carmel Valley, the firm opened in October. Morrison & Foerster has 17 offices around the world and more than 700 lawyers on staff.
The firm is primarily bringing their expertise on intellectual property to the San Diego market, Danis said.
– Focusing On High-Tech
Life Sciences Companies
While the local office represents a variety of clients, Morrison & Foerster is focusing its services on high-tech and life sciences companies, he said.
Services include patent prosecution, technology licensing, litigation and corporate finance.
The focus will allow the office to concentrate its marketing efforts in one area, he said.
Due to its international capabilities, Danis said the firm is also well positioned to help companies beyond the San Diego marketplace.
Although a local client count was unavailable, Danis said that there was more work than there are lawyers to do it.
Joan Irion, managing shareholder of the San Diego office for Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP, said the entrance of Morrison & Foerster is evidence of the growth of the business community.
Welcoming the firm into the community, Irion said the growth of the life sciences, communications, and Internet industries makes it possible for other entrants into San Diego.
– Local Firms Serve
Business Community
In addition, probably all local firms have geared their offices to meet the needs of the business community, she said.
Having another firm in San Diego was not an issue for Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP either, according to Jim Perkins, chief operating officer of Procopio.
In the last two years, many of the larger firms with small offices in San Diego have experienced much growth locally, he said.
The entrance of Morrison & Foerster “validates the fact that San Diego is an exciting place from a business point of view,” Perkins said.
Talking about locally based firms with one office, Perkins said Procopio has probably grown the most of these firms.
The local business community has been very receptive to having a local Morrison & Foerster office as well, said Danis, adding the office receives calls from prospective clients every day.
Representing companies like Yahoo, Intel and Fujitsu, the firm also represents local businesses such as La Jolla Pharmaceutical, Anticancer, Quidel and Newbiotics, according to Morrison & Foerster’s Web site at (www.mofo.com).
– Bringing More
Staff On Board
Although the local office opened with a few lawyers, Danis said there are now eight lawyers on staff.
By the end of the year, he expects the number of attorneys to grow to 25.
Although details are unavailable, plans for growth are currently in the works and should be officially announced in the coming weeks, he said.
Current staff includes:
o Mark W. Danis, a partner in the firm’s litigation department who specializes in complex civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels.
o Kate H. Murashige, a Morrison & Foerster partner who co-chairs the firm’s patent group and focuses on biotechnology and other bioscience matters.
o Eric M. Acker, who is Of Counsel, a former federal prosecutor, and focuses on complex civil litigation and white-collar criminal defense.
o Kurt Springman, an associate in the litigation department and specializes in intellectual property litigation and counseling, particularly in the areas of patent and Internet law.
o Peng Chen, an associate in the business department of the patent group and specializes in patent prosecution and client counseling in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Recent staff additions include Juli Oh, who works in the corporate group, and Paul A. Friedman and Laurie Axford, who are patent litigators.
