Wilson Sonsi Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR) an accomplished provider of legal services to technology, life-sciences and other growth enterprises worldwide, announced on June 20th 2018, that the firm will be opening a London office in just a few months. For more than 50 years, WSGR has represented more technology companies in venture financings, IPOs and M&A deals than any other US law firms.
London’s Technology Market
Daniel Glazer will be running the new practice. Set to open on August 1st, the office is located in the heart of London’s technology community, at 41 Old Street. Glazer is a WSGR partner who is head of the firm’s US expansion practice. The purpose of this London office is to extend the firms practice into one of the world’s largest and successful technology markets. This provides the US the ability to support and have access to UK-based life-sciences and technology companies.
WSGR plan to continue fostering the growth of tech ecosystems, by connecting UK-based companies and investors to its transatlantic network. A network that includes capital providers, advisors and corporates, to all lever the firm’s experience by adding value to emerging companies. The firm has chosen to open this new office at a peak investment time for the capital’s tech companies. Figures reached record levels, as investment in the London technology sector is up $100 million since 2010. Last year the sector totalled a respectable $3.3 billion, almost doubling the total made in 2016.
Reasons for the Expansion
Doug Clark, a WSGR managing partner, stated “Our firm has maintained its established position in the US as the leading law firm provider to innovative enterprises, dating back to Silicon Valley’s formative years, because of our sustained success in helping emerging companies advance through the business life cycle.” He went on to further say “This is a key milestone for the firm and we are very enthusiastic about the opportunities it will present to our clients and colleagues in London”.
Clark also highlights another reasoning behind the new office, to extend the resources that they can offer to UK-based technology and life-sciences companies. Ultimately, helping them launch and scale their US operations and carry out cross-border transactions.
London Tech Week, 2018, showcased the spectacular work of British organisations that specialise in areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Fintech, as well as the diversity of the capital’s thriving tech ecosystem. Rajesh Agrawal, London’s Deputy Mayor for Business, stated “One of the key reasons global technology companies come to London is for the access to investors, policy makers, regulators, and professional services firms (such as WSGR) all in one place. We welcome this investment into London, which is further proof that London is a leading global centre for international technology and legal firms.”
In August 2018, WSGR will occupy 16 offices in locations around the world; 11 in the US, and 5 in Europe and Asia, all within cities where their locations are key to technology and corporate markets.
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