-
Internationally Recognized Corporate Lawyer
Larry is Senior and Founding Partner of Wilson Sonsini.
-
Veteran Silicon Valley Attorney
Larry has been instrumental in many of the financings, IPOs, mergers, acquisitions, and other key transactions of Silicon Valley and beyond.
-
Trusted Leader
He has served as Wilson Sonsini CEO and chairman; a member of the NYSE’s board of directors; chairman of the NYSE’s Regulation, Enforcement and Listing Standards Committee; and chairman of the New York Stock Exchange's 2009 Commission on Corporate Governance.
The Senior and Founding Partner of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Larry W. Sonsini has gained international recognition for his expertise in the areas of corporate law, corporate governance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. He has been instrumental in many of the financings, IPOs, mergers, acquisitions, and other key transactions of Silicon Valley and beyond.
In addition to his duties at the firm, which included serving as chief executive officer as well as chairman for more than 35 years, Larry was chairman of the New York Stock Exchange's Commission on Corporate Governance, which was formed in 2009 and issued its final report in fall 2010. He is also a member of the NYSE's Proxy Working Group and served as a member of the NYSE's board of directors from 2001 to 2003. In addition, he served as chairman of the NYSE's Regulation, Enforcement and Listing Standards Committee until 2008, and previously was a member of the NYSE's Legal Advisory Committee and the NYSE Committee for Review.
Larry has served on a number of advisory boards and committees, including: the SEC's Advisory Committee on Capital Formation and Regulatory Processes; ABA Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities; and Legal Advisory Board of NASD, Inc. Additionally, he is a member of the board of trustees and a founding fellow of the American College of Governance Counsel.
In 1999, Larry was selected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a trustee of Santa Clara University (SCU), was recently chosen as the honorary chair of SCU's High Technology Law Institute, and is a Foreign Policy Association Fellow. Larry was formerly a trustee at the University of California, Berkeley (1990-1996), and has served on the Board of Advisors of the Technical Law Journal at Boalt Hall. He has taught at Stanford Law School and UC Berkeley School of Law.
The Senior and Founding Partner of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Larry W. Sonsini has gained international recognition for his expertise in the areas of corporate law, corporate governance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. He has been instrumental in many of the financings, IPOs, mergers, acquisitions, and other key transactions of Silicon Valley and beyond.
In addition to his duties at the firm, which included serving as chief executive officer as well as chairman for more than 35 years, Larry was chairman of the New York Stock Exchange's Commission on Corporate Governance, which was formed in 2009 and issued its final report in fall 2010. He is also a member of the NYSE's Proxy Working Group and served as a member of the NYSE's board of directors from 2001 to 2003. In addition, he served as chairman of the NYSE's Regulation, Enforcement and Listing Standards Committee until 2008, and previously was a member of the NYSE's Legal Advisory Committee and the NYSE Committee for Review.
Larry has served on a number of advisory boards and committees, including: the SEC's Advisory Committee on Capital Formation and Regulatory Processes; ABA Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities; and Legal Advisory Board of NASD, Inc. Additionally, he is a member of the board of trustees and a founding fellow of the American College of Governance Counsel.
In 1999, Larry was selected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a trustee of Santa Clara University (SCU), was recently chosen as the honorary chair of SCU's High Technology Law Institute, and is a Foreign Policy Association Fellow. Larry was formerly a trustee at the University of California, Berkeley (1990-1996), and has served on the Board of Advisors of the Technical Law Journal at Boalt Hall. He has taught at Stanford Law School and UC Berkeley School of Law.
- J.D., UC Berkeley School of Law, 1966
- A.B., Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1963
- Member, Board of Trustees, The American College of Governance Counsel
- Chairman, Commission on Corporate Governance, New York Stock Exchange (2009-2010)
- Chairman, Regulation, Enforcement and Listing Standards Committee, New York Stock Exchange (2003-2008)
- Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Former Chairman of the Securities Regulation Institute and Member of its Executive Committee
- Member, Advisory Committee on Capital Formation and Regulatory Processes, Securities and Exchange Commission
- Member, Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities, American Bar Association
- Member, Board of Advisors, Technical Law Journal, Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley
- Member, American Law Institute
- Member, President's Board on Science and Innovation, University of California
- Member, Berkeley Fellows (2001)
- Member, Board of Trustees, SEC Historical Society
- Member, CCH Advisory Board
- Trustee, Santa Clara University
- Trustee, University of California, Berkeley (1990-1996)
- Honorary Chair, High Technology Law Institute, Santa Clara University
- Adjunct Professor, Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley
- Adjunct Professor, Stanford Law School
- Judge Learned Hand Award by the American Jewish Community, 2015
- Pioneer Business Leader Award, Silicon Valley Education Foundation, 2012
- Named "one of the most influential players in U.S. corporate governance" by Directorship magazine in 2007 and 2010
- Santa Clara Law School's inaugural Santa Clara Law Amicus Award, 2009
- Business Leader of the Year, Harvard Business School Association of Northern California, 2005
- Business Hall of Fame Award, Bay Area Council
- Community Service Award for Exemplary Leadership, National Conference for Community and Justice
- Award for Achievement, California Alumni Association, University of California, Berkeley
- Third Annual Visionary Award, Software Development Forum
- Boalt Hall School of Law Citation Award, University of California, Berkeley
- Director's Award, San Francisco Exploratorium
- Special Achievement Award in Commerce and Law, National Italian American Foundation
- Honorary Doctorate, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
- State Bar of California
- J.D., UC Berkeley School of Law, 1966
- A.B., Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1963
- Member, Board of Trustees, The American College of Governance Counsel
- Chairman, Commission on Corporate Governance, New York Stock Exchange (2009-2010)
- Chairman, Regulation, Enforcement and Listing Standards Committee, New York Stock Exchange (2003-2008)
- Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Former Chairman of the Securities Regulation Institute and Member of its Executive Committee
- Member, Advisory Committee on Capital Formation and Regulatory Processes, Securities and Exchange Commission
- Member, Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities, American Bar Association
- Member, Board of Advisors, Technical Law Journal, Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley
- Member, American Law Institute
- Member, President's Board on Science and Innovation, University of California
- Member, Berkeley Fellows (2001)
- Member, Board of Trustees, SEC Historical Society
- Member, CCH Advisory Board
- Trustee, Santa Clara University
- Trustee, University of California, Berkeley (1990-1996)
- Honorary Chair, High Technology Law Institute, Santa Clara University
- Adjunct Professor, Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley
- Adjunct Professor, Stanford Law School
- Judge Learned Hand Award by the American Jewish Community, 2015
- Pioneer Business Leader Award, Silicon Valley Education Foundation, 2012
- Named "one of the most influential players in U.S. corporate governance" by Directorship magazine in 2007 and 2010
- Santa Clara Law School's inaugural Santa Clara Law Amicus Award, 2009
- Business Leader of the Year, Harvard Business School Association of Northern California, 2005
- Business Hall of Fame Award, Bay Area Council
- Community Service Award for Exemplary Leadership, National Conference for Community and Justice
- Award for Achievement, California Alumni Association, University of California, Berkeley
- Third Annual Visionary Award, Software Development Forum
- Boalt Hall School of Law Citation Award, University of California, Berkeley
- Director's Award, San Francisco Exploratorium
- Special Achievement Award in Commerce and Law, National Italian American Foundation
- Honorary Doctorate, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
- State Bar of California
Select Publications
- Co-author, Creating an Effective Board, Globe White Page Boardroom Advisor Series, 2004
Select Publications
- Co-author, Creating an Effective Board, Globe White Page Boardroom Advisor Series, 2004