EDITORIAL REVIEW
This IPO sage is still a dominant force in Silicon
Valley and the lawyer of choice for many hightech
execs and those investing in tech companies.
—2008 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
The lawyer who built Silicon Valley with his advice to Apple, HP and Google is weathering the option backdating era.
— Lawdragon,
January 2008
The Valley's dealmaking icon continues to handle some of the biggest high-tech transactions, such as repping Pixar in its $7 billion sale to Disney.
— Lawdragon, July 2007
It’s not always good to be king given the furor over stock
option backdating and HP pretexting. (But usually it is.)
— Lawdragon,
October 2006
Larry Sonsini is "involved in a hell of a lot of everything," say his competitors. That would not be an overstatement. He is one of the most sought-after corporate attorneys in the high-tech biz and has represented high-tech powerhouses such as Sun Microsystems, Apple Computers and Netscape Communications in matters related to corporate governance, securities and mergers and acquisitions. As chairman of Wilson Sonsini, his firm handles hundreds of significant initial public offerings in the tech industry each year; in 2004, Sonsini represented Google in the largest Internet IPO to date. In addition to his legal practice, Sonsini has served as a member of the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange and is the NYSE's chairman of the Regulation, Enforcement and Listing Standards Committee, as well as chairman of its Legal Advisory Committee. In the fall of 2003, Sonsini was asked to serve as the interim chairman of the NYSE, a job that he declined. Young corporate lawyers throughout the country admire the Silicon Valley legal luminary. As one says, "I want to be a dealmaker that creates wonderful, big, successful companies" just like Sonsini.
— Lawdragon,
October 2005
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Chairman
EXPERIENCE:
Chairman of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Larry W. Sonsini has gained international recognition for his expertise in the
areas of corporate law, corporate governance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. He has been instrumental in many of
the IPOs, mergers, acquisitions, and other key transactions of Silicon Valley and beyond, including Google's historic IPO
and Hewlett-Packard's merger with Compaq Computer.
In addition to his duties at the firm, which included serving as chief executive officer as well as chairman for more than
20 years, Larry is chairman of the New York Stock Exchange's newly formed Commission on Corporate Governance, and a member
of the NYSE's Proxy Working Group. He was a member of the NYSE's board of directors from 2001 to 2003, and also served as
chairman of the NYSE's Regulation, Enforcement and Listing Standards Committee until 2008. Larry previously was a member of
the NYSE's Legal Advisory Committee and the NYSE Committee for Review.
EDUCATION:
ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
- Chairman, Commission on Corporate Governance, New
York Stock Exchange
- Chairman, Enforcement and Listing Standards
Committee, New York Stock Exchange (2003-2008)
- Director, Echelon Corporation
- Member, Advisory Board, Silicon Valley Bank
- Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Member, Advisory Committee on Capital Formation
and Regulatory Processes, Securities and Exchange Commission
- Member, Committee on Federal Regulation
of Securities, American Bar Association
- Member, Advisory Board,
NASD
- Member, Board of Advisors, Technical Law Journal, Boalt
Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley
- Member, American Law Institute
- Member, President's Board on Science and
Innovation, University of California
- Member, Berkeley Fellows (2001)
- Trustee, Santa Clara University
- Trustee, University of California, Berkeley (1990-1996)
- Honorary Chair, High Technology Law Institute, Santa Clara
University
- Faculty Member, Boalt Hall School of Law,
University of California, Berkeley
HONORS:
- Named "one of the most influential players in U.S. corporate governance" by Directorship magazine in 2007
- Business Leader of the Year, Harvard Business School Association of Northern California, 2005
- Business Hall of Fame Award, Bay Area Council
- Community Service Award for Exemplary Leadership, National Conference for Community and Justice
- Award for Achievement, California Alumni Association, University of California, Berkeley
- Third Annual Visionary Award, Software Development Forum
- Boalt Hall School of Law Citation Award, University of California, Berkeley
- Director's Award, San Francisco Exploratorium
- Special Achievement Award in Commerce and Law, National Italian American Foundation
- Honorary Doctorate, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
ADMISSIONS:
See Library Tab for articles, publications and presentations
by Larry Sonsini
