The Palo Alto based firm has over 460 lawyers and thousands of corporate clients, but it is best known for representing adversaries of Microsoft. WSGR is also contemplating opening another office in the technology dense Austin, Texas, area. WSGR was founded in 1961, but did not grow rapidly until the Silicon Valley computer industry took off. It helped Apple go public, and has since handled more high tech public offerings than any other law firm. Recently, one of its partners, Gary Rebach, has been a very public critic of Microsoft's business practices.
Technology is a global industry and the foundation of our firm.
We want to remain the nation's top technology law firm and if we want to continue to be the leader, we must remain close to the technology centers. This decision to open other offices is also prompted by the growing number of venture capital deals being done in technology centers other than the firm's traditional Silicon Valley base. WSGR presently has only one office, at 650 Page Mill Road in Palo Alto, California. WSGR is considering opening branch offices in other major technology centers in the U.S., and will study international opportunities as well. The firm will make a final decision about opening an Austin office by the end of 1998.