The international law firm of Vinson & Elkins is opening a new office in San Francisco, expanding its footprint in Northern California slightly more than two years after entering the market with an office in Palo Alto.

The San Francisco office will initially focus on white collar, antitrust, and complex commercial litigation matters, as well as intellectual property law. Litigation partner Matthew Jacobs will reside in the San Francisco office. To start, there will be six attorneys in the office and approximately 15 people, including staff. In the near future, V&E will consider strategic additions through the lateral market.

The move into San Francisco will allow V&E to serve its existing clients in the United States, Asia, and around the world who are doing business on the West Coast.

“Since Vinson & Elkins has long had a national litigation and IP practice, it made sense strategically to have an office in San Francisco,” said T. Mark Kelly, Chairman of V&E. “Moreover, opening in San Francisco bolsters our strong Palo Alto office and gives us a larger Northern California presence, which will be of great assistance and value to our clients. California, in general, is a key part of the firm’s growth strategy moving forward.”

The San Francisco office is V&E’s 16th, joining six domestic and nine international offices. V&E opened its Palo Alto office in January 2010 to focus on clean energy, venture capital and intellectual property matters.

The firm has made considerable strides in bolstering its presence in the California litigation market as well, recognizing the legal challenges facing clients, particularly in the Northern District. Within the past five years, V&E has handled more than 50 litigation matters filed in California Federal Courts.

Karl Stern, co-chair of V&E’s Litigation Department, said, “Our new office expands V&E’s litigation and IP capabilities for our growing list of clients internationally, as well as on both coasts. The ability to work closely with two West Coast offices will generate synergies beneficial to our clients.”

Jacobs is a former federal prosecutor in San Francisco with nearly 20 years of trial experience handling white-collar defense, internal investigations, and complex commercial litigation. Widely recognized as one of the leading white collar specialists in Northern California, he is an experienced trial lawyer who represents both corporations and individuals in criminal and internal investigations involving the Department of Justice, the Securities & Exchange Commission, and other governmental agencies. Jacobs has extensive experience in antitrust, health care fraud, FCPA, securities, energy, environmental, and in criminal and civil forfeiture matters. In addition, he represents technology sector clients in complex commercial litigation.

“San Francisco is a critical location for the white collar, antitrust, and commercial litigation practice, and this new office is a critical step in our strategic plans,” Jacobs said. “Many of our clients both in the United States and Asia — particularly in Japan, China, and Hong Kong — believe this office will enable us to better serve their needs. I am personally very excited to be part of this effort.”

V&E is one of the preeminent law firms in Asia, providing integrated U.S. and local law advice, and offers a broad range of legal services in the Asia-Pacific region through four offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo. For many years, V&E’s lawyers have represented the interests of a variety of clients in connection with their projects, transactions, and other matters throughout the area. The firm’s lawyers in Asia are part of V&E’s integrated worldwide network, collaborating closely with lawyers in V&E’s other offices to serve firm clients whose headquarters are located outside Asia.

V&E’s litigation experience includes antitrust, banking, bankruptcy, condemnation, commercial, energy, environmental, financial instruments, government contracts, health care, international trade, sanctions, securities, tax, labor and employment, and tort matters. We also handle the defense of white-collar criminal matters and internal corporate investigations.

V&E also has a well established record of success in obtaining, protecting, exploiting, and enforcing clients’ intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, and copyrights. Our lawyers have successfully litigated patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret cases in state and federal district courts throughout the United States and have obtained highly favorable judgments for V&E’s clients in a variety of appellate courts, including the Federal Circuit.

www.velaw.com