This week, international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP added Joshua H. Walker as a shareholder in the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) Practice. Walker was previously the leader of Simpson Thacher’s IP Transactions Group in Palo Alto, and will now be practicing in Greenberg Traurig’s Silicon Valley and Austin offices.

“Josh’s addition to Greenberg Traurig is a true embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit so strongly encouraged at the firm,” said Chuck Birenbaum, chair of the firm’s offices in Northern California. “He is one of the first lateral hires recruited via Facebook messenger, where Josh reached out to Ian Ballon directly to learn more about the firm’s atmosphere and what it’s like to split time between two offices.”

“I have known and respected Josh for years through Stanford. When Josh messaged me on Facebook for advice about what it would be like working in two cities, I immediately suggested he meet some of my colleagues in Silicon Valley and Austin because I knew that Josh would be a great fit at the firm,” said Ian Ballon, a shareholder in the firm’s Silicon Valley and Los Angeles offices. “His legal experience, combined with his business experience, including previously serving as a founder and general counsel at a successful technology start-up, will certainly enhance our IP Practice in both Austin and Silicon Valley.”

Walker handles all aspects of IP transactions and strategy, from patent and cyber/trade secret to copyright and trademark. He has extensive experience in IP M&A, strategy, licensing, and other complex technology transactions, particularly open source and IP risk analysis (e.g., data rights and privacy, patent valuation, complex open source compliance and remediation). Walker’s client base includes leading technology companies and financial institutions.

Walker is also considered a pioneer in using hard IP data to help improve transactional, litigation, and business outcomes. A co-founder of the first law and computer science lab in the United States, at Stanford University, Walker previously architected and led the successful spin-off of leading “big data analytics” platform, Lex Machina, Inc., which provides legal intelligence to companies, law firms, and governments all over the world.

“As a highly regarded technology, IP, and open source lawyer, we look forward to having Josh join our team,” said Bill Goines, managing shareholder of the firm’s Silicon Valley office. “His technical, legal, and business background will not only greatly complement the group, but also benefit our clients.”

“Clients increasingly need us to be entrepreneurial and interdisciplinary, to combine legal art with business acumen, and to solve problems,” said Walker. “Having known Ian and Greenberg Traurig’s Intellectual Property Practice for over a decade, I am confident that this is the right place to meet that client need, and I am keen to put my shoulder to the wheel.”

Walker earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and his A.B., magnum cum laude, from Harvard College.

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