LawFuel.com – Goodwin Procter LLP, one of the nation’s leading law firms with more than 700 attorneys, today announced the addition of new offices in San Diego and downtown Los Angeles, bringing to four its total number of offices in California. This strategic expansion will broaden the reach of the firm’s nationally recognized technology and life sciences practice, as well as its real estate and real estate investment management practice.
Joining the firm are Stephen C. Ferruolo and Ryan A. Murr, both former partners at Heller Ehrman LLP. Ferruolo is one of the nation’s leading attorneys in the technology and life sciences industry and former co-chair of Heller’s Corporate/VLG Group; he will chair Goodwin Procter’s new office in San Diego.
In addition, the firm is expanding its Los Angeles presence with the addition of new partners Dean C. Pappas and Dani L. Vogt, both from Mayer, Brown, Rose & Maw LLP and Edward C. Hagerott, Jr., who joins from Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. All focus on complex real estate transactions; Pappas was previously the chair of Mayer Brown’s Real Estate Group in Los Angeles.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome these highly-regarded attorneys to Goodwin Procter as we continue to further our mission of providing ‘best in class’ legal counsel to our clients,” said Regina M. Pisa, chairman and managing partner of Goodwin Procter. “California is a critical component of our long-term strategic plan and we are committed to investing in key practices and markets in the State.”
Goodwin Procter’s Technology and Life Sciences practice is one of the largest in the United States, with its attorneys representing over 500 public and private companies and entrepreneurs, and over 100 venture capital and private equity firms as well as some of the nation’s leading investment banks. The firm recently added an FDA practice based in Washington, D.C. and in 2005 attracted nearly 100 attorneys from Testa Hurwitz, many of whom focused on technology, life sciences and intellectual property.
“Goodwin Procter is also a leader and pioneer in the real estate industry and has been actively involved in real estate for decades – from real estate development to the most sophisticated real estate investment trust (REIT) and merger and acquisition deals,” said Pisa. “Serving clients nationally from both the East and West Coasts is a key component of our long-term bicoastal strategy. The addition of these lawyers – who focus on complex and sophisticated transactional work – significantly complements our existing Century City-based real estate practice and our East Coast-based real estate and real estate capital markets practices.”
Lewis G. Feldman, chair of Goodwin Procter’s Century City office and head of its National Public/Private Development Finance Practice, will assume additional responsibility for chairing the firm’s new downtown LA office.
Goodwin Procter first launched offices in California in April 2006, opening in Century City and San Francisco simultaneously.
About Goodwin Procter
Goodwin Procter LLP is one of the nation’s leading law firms with offices in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The firm’s core areas of practice are corporate, litigation and real estate, with specialized areas of focus that include financial services, private equity, technology, REITs and real estate capital markets, intellectual property and products liability. Additional information may be found at www.goodwinprocter.com.
Partner Biographical Information (Complete Bios Available Upon Request):
Stephen Ferruolo (San Diego – Technology/Life Sciences), was formerly Co-Chair of Heller Ehrman’s Corporate/VLG Practice Group, a member of the Coordinating Committee of the Life Sciences Practice and a member of the Intellectual Property Transactions Practice Group. He has worked on public and private financings, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic partnerships and technology licenses for companies in such fields as biotechnology, medical devices and diagnostics, software, material sciences and telecommunications.
Ryan Murr (San Diego – Technology/Life Sciences), specializes in corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on representing publicly traded companies in connection with securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and SEC reporting and corporate governance matters, including Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance.
Dean C. Pappas (Downtown LA – Real Estate), specializes in real estate with an emphasis on structuring, negotiating, drafting and closing various real estate and corporate transactions, including joint venture formation (including partnerships and limited liability companies), merger, acquisition and disposition, construction, mortgage and mezzanine loan, public contracting, leasing and other various transactions. Prior to joining Goodwin Procter, he chaired Mayer Brown’s Real Estate Practice Group in Los Angeles.
Edward C. Hagerott (Downtown LA – Real Estate), focuses on real estate law with an emphasis on representing property owners and investors, including financial institutions, REITs and other real estate companies, in purchase and sale, finance, development and leasing transactions and the formation of real estate joint ventures. Hagerott also has significant experience in acquisitions/dispositions, conventional loan transactions (construction and term loans), mezzanine financing, sale-leaseback, leveraged lease and other similar transactions and workouts and Deeds-in-Lieu of Foreclosure.
Dani L.Vogt (Downtown LA – Real Estate), specializes in real estate, including acquisitions and sales, joint ventures, lending and leasing. She represents pension funds, insurance companies, REITs and other institutions in the acquisition and disposition of apartment and condominium projects, industrial buildings, office buildings and vacant real estate. In addition, she has significant expertise in the creation of partnerships and limited liability companies in connection with the development of retail, multi-family, industrial and office properties. In lending matters, she represents lenders and borrowers in permanent, construction and mezzanine loans and in leasing, tenants and landlords in office and retail leasing transactions.
