– Addition of Wernli, Jr. as a Partner Broadens the Firm’s Public Company and Transactional Experience –
Contact:
Kelsey (Nason) Dellovo
Baretz+Brunelle
339.223.0961 Mobile
kdellovo@baretzbrunelle.com
PALO ALTO, CA (August 17, 2021) – Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, announced today that Robert (Rob) L. Wernli, Jr. has joined the firm as a corporate partner in the San Diego office. His addition bolsters Wilson Sonsini’s public company and transactional experience.
Wernli’s experience as a public company and capital markets attorney includes both advisory and transactional areas. He advises public companies on SEC reporting, listing exchange compliance matters, corporate governance, and other ongoing business matters. He also has substantial transactional experience representing clients in capital markets deals, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances.
“Public companies and other clients often have uniquely complex needs and operational challenges that require sharp legal counsel and sophisticated transactional experience.” said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. “Rob is a skilled attorney who has an impressive combination of in-house and outside counsel expertise, which will benefit our public company clients and add to what is already a formidable team that is well known for completing all manner of transactions—from acquisitions and IPOs to collaborations and strategic alliances. We’re very pleased to welcome Rob to our firm.”
Previously, Wernli joined law firm Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton in its San Diego office in 2012 as a special counsel and became partner there in 2018. Prior to that, from 2009 to 2012, he was a vice president and senior corporate attorney for Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (now known as Zovio), an education technology services company previously based in San Diego. Before moving in-house at Bridgepoint, Wernli worked as an associate at Sheppard Mullin from 2004 to 2009. He started his legal career as an associate at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP in San Diego, from 2002 to 2004. Wernli has also previously served on the Partnerships and LLCs Standing Committee of the State Bar of California.
Wernli earned his J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2002 and a B.A. degree in political science, cum laude, from the University of California, San Diego, in 1998. He is admitted to practice in California.
“Wilson Sonsini has an establish brand of building and advising successful companies, including scores of clients that became public companies or otherwise grew by way of acquisitions or other transactions,” said Wernli. “I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of working with interesting and innovative companies, and Wilson Sonsini has such an amazing and diverse range of both public and private company clients. I’ve also had the chance to work with the firm’s attorneys—as a client and in conjunction with prior deals—so I know they’re talented and collaborative, and I look forward to joining the firm and its great team in San Diego.”
Wilson Sonsini has more than 300 public company clients and a sterling reputation as an advisor to corporations, boards of directors, and board committees. The firm’s attorneys advise on core corporate and securities law matters, including reporting and disclosure requirements (SEC, NYSE, and NASDAQ), audit and compensation committee matters, and compliance with corporate governance statutes, including Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank, and Delaware General Corporate Law. The firm also represents public companies in regulatory and litigation matters, as well as internal and board investigations. Since 2003, directors of publicly traded U.S. corporations consistently have ranked Wilson Sonsini among the nation’s top law firms, according to the annual survey conducted by Corporate Board Member magazine and FTI Consulting.
About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
For 60 years, Wilson Sonsini has offered a broad range of services and legal disciplines focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has offices in Austin; Beijing; Boston; Brussels; Hong Kong; London; Los Angeles; New York; Palo Alto; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Shanghai; Washington, D.C.; and Wilmington, DE. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.