Innovation and agility are essential ingredients for competitive organizations, regardless of industry. But, for the technology sector, the stakes have never been greater and more complex. While developments in cloud platforms and artificial intelligence accelerate the ability to experiment and power transformative opportunities, even small companies in the technology sector can now harness these powerful capabilities which were once limited to a select few, creating broader, more diverse competition.
At the convergence of technology, business, and the law, Farella lawyers fully grasp the drive to innovate and succeed. They understand the uncertainties created by competition, market dispersion, evolving regulation, a mobile workforce, global intellectual property theft, and citizen suits.
From the heart of the Bay Area of San Francisco and Silicon Valley to the Napa Valley and beyond, our lawyers partner with technology companies of all sizes to address their legal issues and business objectives related to operation, research, development, procurement, manufacture, intellectual property protection, and distribution of technologically-based goods and services.
Focus
Drawing on our extensive knowledge, experience, and familiarity with companies that operate in tech categories, such as biotechnology, electronics—mobile devices, wearables, and IOT home appliances—computers, internet applications, search engines, and retail websites, our counsel helps companies anticipate and overcome hurdles. Importantly, we offer comprehensive services and can provide critical intellectual property support in patent, copyright, trademark, antitrust, and trade secret challenges.
Our technology team includes a deep bench of seasoned trial lawyers and boasts exceptional success in conveying complex technical concepts to judges, juries, arbitrators, mediators, regulators, and other parties. For example, in a recent product liability and failure to warn case that garnered national and international attention, our technology litigation team represented a well-known multinational biotech and chemical company at trial and were successful in significantly reducing a punitive damages award by $211 million. The case is now in appeal.
Scope and Scale
Amid the relentless pace and pressure associated with the technology sector, Farella brings a combination of legal experience and business savvy that can scale with management teams from early stage through maturity. We have helped large, multinational tech companies invest in and nurture smaller companies to accelerate their growth, fend off competitors, or add niche capabilities. Likewise, we represent established and start-up life science, medical product, and healthcare companies, including biotechnology companies, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, software companies, investment banks, and venture capital firms at all critical junctures.
Our integrated practice supports clients in stages of their corporate life cycle, including forming, financing, operating, hiring, growing, and protecting. We become trusted advisors who take a proactive and pragmatic approach to counseling and problem solving for:
- Company formation
- Acquisition and disposition
- Technology transaction
- Licensing
- Commercial agreements
- Corporate governance
- Intellectual property protection and litigation
- PTAB proceedings
- Commercial, trade secret, and securities litigation—prosecution and defense
- Product liability litigation and trials
- Insurance coverage
- Employment law
- Tax
- Real estate
- White collar litigation and investigations
In addition, we assist businesses dependent on the tech innovations of others, such as enterprise software, logistics systems, privacy, and data protection. We perform technology audits and risk assessments and handle dispute resolution for clients that use technology in their products, services, or operation across a wide range of markets and industries, including sports, financial services, life sciences, energy, retail, manufacturing, consumer products, and real estate.