January 9, 2007
SANTA BARBARA – Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, a premier law firm representing emerging growth companies in Southern California, today announced the expansion of its practice and a new location in Santa Barbara.
As of January 8, 2007, Stradling’s Santa Barbara Office will be located at 800 Anacapa Street. The move will enable the firm to expand its growing practice as the premier law firm in the region serving emerging growth companies. Among many other transactions over the course of 2006, Stradling represented Select Personnel in connection with its $300 million first lien/second lien financing provided by Bank of the West and Goldman Sachs for the acquisition by Select Personnel of RemedyTemp.
“This new expanded location reflects our current success and growth as well as our continued commitment to serve the Santa Barbara and Tri-Counties area,” said David Lafitte, Managing Partner of the firm’s Santa Barbara office.
As evidence of that growth, the firm also announced it has hired Santa Barbara lawyer Joseph Nida as Of Counsel in its Corporate Practice Group. He previously was the founder of the Santa Barbara office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, and has been a local legend serving emerging growth companies.
Nida represents technology and other life sciences and other public and private companies and development stage companies in the area of M&A, securities, corporate finance and general business. Nida has practiced law in Santa Barbara for more than thirty years. He was a Founder and is the Chairman of the Central Coast Venture Forum.
“It couldn’t be more fitting than for Joe to join this firm,” said Lafitte. “Just as Nick Yocca was the pioneer lawyer for emerging growth companies in Orange County, Joe has committed his career to serving similar companies in the Santa Barbara and Tri-County areas,” he said.
Nida was recently selected by his peers as one of the Best Lawyers in America for 2006 and 2007. Nida currently serves as the Corporate Secretary of Deckers Outdoor Corporation (Nasdaq-NMS DECK), and is a Director or Officer of a number of emerging growth companies.