November 9, 2006

THE DAILY JOURNAL

By Robert Iafolla

SAN DIEGO – A prominent California real estate law firm has lost the leader of its emerging growth and venture capital practice to a 1,000-lawyer international firm.

Corporate attorney Peter N. Townshend joins McDermott Will & Emery’s San Diego office as a partner Monday from Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis. He specializes in general corporate matters, financing, investment, licensing and transactions.

“Peter has extensive expertise and experience dealing with emerging companies in both Silicon Valley and San Diego, and that really strengthens us in that area, both in California and the rest of the firm,” said Mark Mihanovic, head of McDermott Will’s California corporate practice.

Townshend said he plans to bring all of his clients with him, including Plaxo, ConforMIS and Chestnut Medical Technologies.

Townshend said the move was motivated by the opportunities presented by McDermott Will, particularly the ability to offer his clients the firm’s expertise in intellectual property.

“There’s a nice mix of complementary practices,” he said. “Plus, Mark’s M & A practice syncs up nicely with mine – I don’t do public companies, he doesn’t do start ups – so it’s a nice fit.”

In addition, Townshend cited the access to capital markets via the firm’s New York office and global clients via its overseas outposts.

McDermott Will, headquartered in Chicago, has more than 1,000 attorneys in nine domestic and five international offices.

Allen Matkins, a firm known for its strength in real estate, has 200 attorneys in five California offices.

“Peter’s a very good guy and a very good lawyer, and we wish him the best,” said Allen Matkin’s managing partner Brian C. Leck, who noted the firm has three corporate partners in its Del Mar Heights office who will continue emerging growth work.

Townshend earned two graduate degrees at UC Berkeley, including a law degree from Boalt Hall and an MBA from the Haas School of Business.

He noted this gives him the ability to parse out balance sheets and profit reports, in addition to giving a client practical guidance.

“I can run through a business plan with a startup and give advice broader than whether or not doing something is legal,” he said.

Townshend practiced at Allen Matkins’s Del Mar office for the past four years. Previously, he worked for Heller Ehrman in the Bay Area.

Although his home base will be in San Diego, he’ll also have an office in Silicon Valley, where many of his clients are located.

“I figured it would be easier to be a Silicon Valley lawyer stationed in San Diego, rather than a San Diego lawyer in Silicon Valley,” he said.