Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that Shaalu Mehra has joined the firm’s Palo Alto office as a partner. Mehra, formerly the chair of the technology transactions group at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, will continue to focus his law practice on intellectual property strategy and technology transactions.

“We welcome Shaalu to the firm,” said Ken Doran, Chairman and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “With degrees in physics and computer science and engineering, he combines a strong technology background with a broad range of IP experience, from patent prosecution early in his career to advising clients on the structuring and negotiation of IP transactions and on the development and acquisition of patent portfolios. This combination will expand our ability to meet client demand for strategic advice on complex IP matters.”

“As patents and other intellectual property continue to drive many of the largest transactions and most contested lawsuits in Silicon Valley, Shaalu’s technical background and experience with IP transactions will be of tremendous benefit to our clients,” said Russell Hansen, Partner in Charge of the firm’s Palo Alto office. “In addition to expanding our IP transactional capabilities, he will work with our corporate partners to advise clients on IP-driven mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and patent portfolio acquisitions.”

“I look forward to working with my new colleagues,” said Mehra. “Gibson Dunn has an outstanding reputation in the local, national and international markets, and its strength in corporate transactions, IP and litigation will provide a terrific platform for my practice.”

About Shaalu Mehra

Mehra advises companies on IP, technology and related corporate matters, including patent portfolio strategy; IP-focused mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other corporate transactions; licensing; and venture finance. He also has substantial experience with cross-border technology transactions, cloud computing, outsourcing and IT and telecommunications services. He has counseled clients offering a wide variety of technology products and services, including enterprise software, semiconductors, networking, IT security, data analytics, electronic commerce, cloud infrastructure, IT distribution, application services and telecommunications.

Admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, he began his legal career focusing on technology transactions and patent strategy for Silicon Valley-based technology clients. He subsequently served as general counsel of a venture fund-backed networking company, from 2001 to 2002. He returned to private practice in 2002, focusing on strategic and transactional advice on IP and corporate transactions matters at Perkins Coie and more recently at Sheppard Mullin.

He was named one of California’s “Top 20 Under 40” by the Daily Journal in 2010 and one of “Silicon Valley’s 40 under 40” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.

He received his law degree in 1998 from Columbia University. He earned an M.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1995 and a B.S. in Physics from University of Notre Dame in 1992.