US firm Haynes Boone is opening an office in San Diego to expand its presence in California and strengthen its life sciences practice.
The San Diego office – its fourth in California, adding to its locations in Orange County, San Francisco and Palo Alto – will be led by Jeffrey Morton, who also co-chairs the firm’s biotechnology practice group.
Morton said: “Many life sciences companies need a team that can help them navigate every stage of growth. Haynes Boone’s platform allows our attorneys to support clients from early innovation and intellectual property strategy through financing, transactions, commercialisation and dispute resolution. That’s the kind of integrated counsel companies need as they grow and bring new technologies to market.”
San Diego-based Morton joined Haynes Boone in 2024 from Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch, where he was a partner and life sciences lead.
Haynes Boone’s San Diego office will provide a hub near key courts for the firm’s more than 20 Southern California-based litigators, and also complement its established Orange County team, which specialises in IP, commercial, employment, franchise, insurance recovery and other high-stakes litigation matters.
Taylor Wilson, firmwide managing partner, said: “San Diego is a natural fit for Haynes Boone. Our goal is not simply to respond to where markets are today, but to anticipate where our clients are headed and invest ahead of their needs. San Diego’s leadership in life sciences, healthcare and innovation makes it an important market for the firm and a place where we can continue helping clients navigate what’s next.”
The San Diego opening follows the launch of its Boston office earlier this year, led by office managing partner Richard Kerr, who joined last November from K&L Gates. The Boston opening was its 20th globally, making San Diego its 21st.
New York-based partner and capital markets and securities practice group co-chair Rick Werner said: “We have been working with companies in the [San Diego] market for years, helping them access capital and navigate the complex issues that come with growth.
“Having colleagues on the ground in San Diego gives those clients a stronger local connection to the firm while making it even easier to bring together our capital markets and other capabilities when they need them.”
Other firms expanding in California this year include Brown Rudnick, which in August hired a 34-lawyer IP litigation team from HSF Kramer to open in Silicon Valley. ArentFox Schiff also opened a Silicon Valley office in August with the hire of a trademark team from Reed Smith.
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