San Francisco, CA

Venable's San Francisco office is home to skilled attorneys handling litigation, transactions, intellectual property, real estate, regulatory, and tax and wealth planning legal matters for clients with interests in the Bay Area. Our office serves regional and international clients across a number of industries including consumer product goods, healthcare, financial services, information technology, and real estate. Whether our clients are crafting a new business model, raising capital, contracting for new business, licensing technology or concerned about new regulation or legislation, our San Francisco-based attorneys can provide practical and actionable answers needed to succeed.

Moreover, capitalizing on our strong Chambers nationally ranked regulatory and legislative practices, Venable brings an in-depth understanding of the federal government to Bay Area clients experiencing increased scrutiny in Washington, DC. Our privacy and advocacy practice has played and continues to play a major role in the development of internet law and policy and our advertising and marketing practice is at the forefront of shaping legislation, regulation and policies that govern advertising and marketing.

Our office is intimately connected with the local community and, working closely as a firm, is capable of serving a full range of clients’ needs with a team of well-respected attorneys.

Advertising and Marketing

Our advertising and marketing team guides companies through every stage of product development – from inception of an idea through marketing, licensing and capitalization. With one of the most extensive and successful advertising and marketing litigation practices in the United States, Venable is positioned to handle any lawsuit, whether it comes from a competitor, a consumer or a government regulator. We are experienced with all types of advertising-related litigation, including false advertising claims, IP-related advertising litigation, government investigations, consumer class actions, new media litigation and self-regulatory matters.

Corporate

Our corporate attorneys handle complex transactional matters tied to company formation, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, finance, succession planning, tax strategies, corporate restructurings and more. We represent clients ranging from both U.S. and international corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and joint ventures to emerging growth companies and select start-ups. Venable corporate attorneys also have the experience and responsiveness needed to represent private equity firms across a range of issues, including complex transactional, legislative, regulatory and compliance matters.

Intellectual Property

The firm’s experienced intellectual property practitioners maximize and protect the value of a company’s intellectual property portfolio through strategic counseling, aggressive negotiation, and efficient litigation. We are ranked among the top 10 for the number of trademark portfolios it manages for clients.

Litigation

Our seasoned litigators are equipped to handle any matter, from consumer class actions to intellectual property and securities litigation. The firm also has considerable experience in conducting internal investigations for corporate clients, representing clients in SEC, administrative and grand jury investigations, and litigating civil enforcement and white-collar criminal cases. We have substantial appellate practice in both the federal and state courts and are regularly retained by clients to handle their interests at the appellate stage.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Our San Francisco team represents publicly traded companies and privately held entities in transactions including mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, divestitures, reorganizations, liquidations and changes of control. Our attorneys advise buyers and sellers, as well as other participants in transactions such as special committees of the board of directors or significant shareholders. We also regularly counsel clients in connection with the creation and operation of joint venture enterprises.

Privacy and Data Security

The use of consumer information is revolutionizing the way we live. The legal and policy issues associated with this revolution focus on privacy. The use of data for personalization of services, social media, mobile media, and the delivery of advertising are key drivers of the San Francisco economy. Venable possesses one of the leading privacy and advertising practices in the US. Chambers has singled out both Venable’s Privacy/Data Security and its Advertising/Marketing practices as winners of its USA Award of Excellence for the top practices in the country.

Real Estate

Our real estate attorneys handle complex commercial real estate transactions and land use matters. We are regularly called upon to structure transactions, prepare financing documentation, as well as obtain special exceptions, rezoning and other land use approvals. The Group also handles the leasing, purchase and sale of commercial properties.

Tax and Wealth Planning

Clients in the Bay Area turn to Venable’s team of tax and wealth planning attorneys to provide federal, state, local and international tax advice. Our attorneys advise corporations, nonprofits, individuals and families in all manner of tax-related issues. We assist in resolving tax controversies, provide counsel on tax policy legislation, and advise on cross-border tax matters.

From creating a plan to administrating it, our wealth planning attorneys work with a wide array of clients and high net-worth individuals to create solutions that provide for their heirs, minimize taxes and continue to provide support for their charitable organizations. Our experience encompasses tax-related matters, such as pensions, real estate and domestic relations laws, and our attorneys are thoroughly grounded in the rules and regulations governing personal and estate taxes.

Technology Transactions and Outsourcing

Our team of dedicated technology transactions and outsourcing attorneys has considerable experience in the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, cloud computing/software as a service (SaaS), software licensing and development, content licensing, data storage and handling, mobile apps, social media, electronic agreements and signatures, cybersquatting, domain names, and virtually every other type of technology transaction or IP licensing arrangement. We have represented some of the world’s largest companies in structuring and negotiating complex international joint venture and strategic relationships, including global supply and distribution arrangements. The team is particularly well known for representing customers and vendors in nearly every facet of IT and business process outsourcing transactions, including real estate management outsourcing.

Venture Capital and Finance

Venable helps companies ranging from start-ups to seasoned public companies raise capital in public and private equity and debt financings. We are very active in the venture capital and early stage financing area, and serves as corporate and M&A counsel to a wide variety of privately-held and public companies. Our lawyers provide emerging technology clients timely, integrated legal services that provide a solid foundation for success, including strong relationships with investors. Venable provides clients with a comprehensive suite of legal services, including in the areas of: corporate structure and tax advice; financing (private and public); patent prosecution and counseling; trademark protection; IP transactions and collaborative agreements; employee relations and benefits; and regulatory and other specialized assistance.

Related Professionals