- Silicon Valley “Lawyer of the Year” in Securities/Capital Markets Law, Best Lawyers (2013)
- Top Securities Attorney, Best Lawyers (2006 – 2014)
- Northern California Super Lawyer, Securities and Corporate Finance (2004, 2006 – 2014)
Laird concentrates his practice in initial public offerings (for both domestic and foreign corporations), follow-on offerings and ongoing securities advice and counseling for public companies. He was chair of the securities group for 18 years, a member of the executive committee for eight years and managing partner for four years at Fenwick.
Laird has co-chaired the Practising Law Institute's multi-city program on initial public offerings for 20 years, and is a regular speaker on a variety of securities topics.
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Representative Initial Public Offerings
Laird has worked on more than 80 IPOs for a wide range of high technology companies, including:
- @Home
- Alliance Semiconductor
- Autoweb.com
- Broadbase Software
- Cadence Design Systems
- CardioGenesis
- Cooper & Chyan Technology
- eBay
- Edify
- Elantec Semiconductor
- Electronic Arts
- ESS Technology
- Exodus Communications
- Genelabs Technologies
- Glu Mobile
- GoRemote Internet Communications
- Green Dot
- HNC Software
- Information Storage Devices
- Insignia Solutions
- Integrated Systems
- Infoblox
- Intuit
- Macromedia
- Macrovision
- NetScreen Technologies
- Oak Technology
- Ocular Sciences
- ONSALE
- Oracle Systems
- Prism Solutions
- Sierra On-Line
- Symantec
- Talarian
- Technology Modeling Associates
- The 3DO Company
- VeriSign
- VERITAS Software
- Versant Object Technology
He has also worked on more than 40 follow-on offerings for the above and other companies.
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Representative Underwriters
Laird has represented a number of underwriters, including:
- Cowen
- Credit Suisse First Boston
- Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown
- Deutsche Bank Securities
- Deutsche Morgan Grenfell
- Goldman Sachs
- Hambrecht & Quist
- JPMorgan
- Lehman Brothers
- Merrill Lynch
- Morgan Stanley
- Nationsbanc Montgomery Securities
- Needham & Company
- Piper Jaffray
- RBC Capital Markets
- Robertson Stephens
Professional Achievements
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Additional Recognitions
- America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Chambers USA (2001, 2003 – 2006)
- Best Corporate Lawyers in America, Corporate Counsel (2006)
- Silicon Valley's Top Lawyers, San Jose Magazine (2003)
- One of 12 Dealmakers of the Year, The American Lawyer (1999)
Practices
Industries
Education & Admissions
M.B.A., with distinction, Harvard Business School
J.D., Harvard Law School
B.A., with honors, Haverford College
Phi Beta Kappa
Admitted to practice in California