Cooley continues to enhance and expand its global mergers and acquisitions practice with the addition of partner Steven Tonsfeldt, who joins Cooley from O’Melveny & Myers where he was chair of its global M&A and private equity practice. He will be based in the firm’s Palo Alto office.

Tonsfeldt is a 25+ year veteran of Silicon Valley, who has advised clients across the United States and beyond on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, contested transactions, hostile takeovers and defense planning. Among numerous accolades, he has been recognized as a leading lawyer for Corporate/M&A by Chambers USA for more than a decade.

“Steve is a superb and seasoned M&A lawyer who is known and admired throughout our industry,” said Barbara Borden, head of Cooley’s M&A practice. “Cooley is delivering record results across the corporate spectrum: in 2015 we handled a total of 187 M&A transactions with an aggregate deal value of $44 billion. Steve will be a tremendous addition to our M&A team, and a great asset to clients seeking sophisticated advice on their most critical transactions.”

“Cooley has a strong reputation as a leader, both in Silicon Valley and globally, for advising the leading growth companies on all their corporate transactional needs,” Tonsfeldt said. “I have worked with, and across from, many of my new Cooley colleagues for a very long time and I look forward to hitting the ground running and contributing to what is a truly collaborative platform for teamwork and success.”

Tonsfeldt received his JD from the University of California, Berkeley and his BBA from the University of Iowa, with highest distinction in Accounting.

www.cooley.com