By Devan McClaine
LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL
Morrison & Foerster will announce today the addition of prominent life-sciences attorney Stephen Thau to its Palo Alto offices. Thau previously was a partner in Heller Ehrman’s venture law group in Palo Alto. He will co-chair Morrison’s life sciences group with Jonathan Dickstein and John Campbell.
“The leadership role is really something I look forward to, it was compelling, especially a leadership role in a firm with such a strong life-sciences platform,” Thau said.
Although Thau said he wasn’t looking to move, he decided it was worth pursuing after being approached by a number of people. Tim Harris, the Palo Alto partner responsible for Thau’s recruitment, said Thau will augment the firm’s life-sciences department.
“The move will hopefully capture two synergies: Stephen’s existing clients, which are impressive. Also, our existing clients who come to us for patent prosecution will have another corporate resource.” Harris said.
Thau represents a cross-section of biotechnologies, pharmaceutical companies and medical manufacturers in the areas of licensing and strategic collaborations, corporate formation, debt and equity finance, mergers and acquisitions, patent prosecution and intellectual property litigation.
Incidentally, Thau is no stranger to Morrison. He began his career as an intellectual property and securities litigator with the firm.
Thau cited the firm’s strong life sciences platform, intellectual property capabilities and presence in Asia as the primary reasons for his return. Thau was reluctant to compare his former employer to Morrison. However, this marks the latest in an exodus of administrative staff and attorneys from Heller Ehrman in the past year. Officials from Heller could not immediately be reached.
The legal recruiting firm of Watanabe Nason Schwartz & Lippman brokered Thau’s move.