Fenwick & West LLP

Fenwick & West is a Mountain View, California-headquartered law firm with approximately 460 attorneys and offices in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, and Seattle. Founded in 1972, Fenwick was built from the ground up to serve the technology industry and has maintained that singular focus for over five decades. The firm generates profits per partner of approximately $4.3 million and is deeply embedded in the Silicon Valley ecosystem, representing tech companies from garage-stage startups through IPO and beyond.

Fenwick holds top-tier rankings in Chambers USA for Technology, Venture Capital, Corporate/M&A, and Intellectual Property. The firm's venture capital and emerging company practice is among the most active in the country, representing both startups and VC funds on financing rounds, equity structures, and corporate governance. Its technology transactions group handles licensing, SaaS agreements, open-source compliance, and strategic partnerships for major tech companies. Fenwick's IP litigation practice focuses on patent disputes in the technology sector, and its capital markets team handles tech IPOs and secondary offerings. The firm also advises some of the largest companies in the world on privacy, data security, and AI governance.

Fenwick uses a free-market assignment system. The firm takes a different approach to hiring than many peers, there is no cookie-cutter personality type, and the firm values genuine interest in the tech industry over rigid credential benchmarks. Associates report that the culture is collaborative, down-to-earth, and deeply influenced by the startup ethos of Silicon Valley. The firm invests in mentorship and professional development while maintaining a less hierarchical structure than traditional BigLaw firms. Fenwick's location in the heart of Silicon Valley means that associates interact daily with the entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and engineers who drive the tech economy.

Fenwick's tech-native identity sets it apart from larger firms that have built technology practices as add-ons to their existing platforms. The firm has represented companies including Apple, Facebook (Meta), and numerous unicorn startups on their most consequential transactions. For students who are passionate about technology and want to practice law at the intersection of innovation and commerce, Fenwick offers an immersive Silicon Valley experience that no East Coast firm can replicate.