A 13-strong venture capital team comprising four partners and nine associates has defected to Orrick in Los Angeles from California rival Gunderson Dettmer.

Orrick says the arrival of the four-partner team, which includes the co-founders of Gunderson’s LA office, Mike Heath and Cody Peterson, will double the size of its venture capital platform in the city.

Heath and Peterson are bringing partners Nick Feldman and Tim Greene with them across to Orrick.

Heath, Peterson and Feldman advise founders, operators and boards at venture-backed companies, as well as their investors, from formation to exit. Greene, a tech transactions adviser, is rejoining Orrick after leaving the firm in 2021 for Gunderson.

Mitch Zuklie, chair of San Francisco-headquartered Orrick, said that the hires were “an incredible opportunity to combine two stellar, entrepreneurial teams and an extraordinary portfolio of venture capital fund and company clients”.

He added that Orrick was “coming off a remarkable year for our clients and our firm in a dynamic and shifting global market, and we believe it’s a moment to make transformational investments in the tech ecosystem”.

According to Orrick, last year its venture capital team advised more than 1,000 southern California-based tech companies and over 100 investors in AI, fintech, crypto and blockchain, energy tech, digital health, space tech and defence tech.

Heath, speaking on behalf of the team, said that: “We have long admired Orrick’s all-in commitment to the tech ecosystem – and the firm’s strategy of assembling top federal and state regulatory, enforcement, litigation and transactional advisors focused on emerging areas like fintech, crypto and blockchain, energytech, space tech and healthtech.”

The team represents leading venture capital funds such as BITKRAFT Ventures, Haun Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Learn Capital, Slauson & Co., Susa Ventures and TenOneTen Ventures.

Heath departs Gunderson after more than 15 years at the firm, where he became a partner in 2018. He is billed as a strategic partner to high-growth companies and venture capital and growth equity funds. He provides advice on formation, venture financings, IPOs and M&A deals, and regularly serves as clients’ primary outside counsel.

His recent experience includes advising fast-growing accounting software outfit FloQast from accelerator-stage to its current status as a unicorn. 

Peterson started his career at Latham & Watkins and joined Gunderson in LA in 2014. His recent experience includes representing charging station contractor ChargerHelp and legal start-up Atticus, which helps people in crisis find legal aid and has navigated multiple financing rounds. 

Greene helps companies build and shape their IP protection and commercialisation strategies and has advised on the IP, technology and privacy aspects of hundreds of venture financings and M&A deals.

Feldman, meanwhile, spent five years at Gunderson having previously worked at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth and Stubbs Alderton & Markiles. His recent experience includes representing leading Web3 and blockchain companies such as Phantom, Lightspark, Conduit and Privy as outside general counsel and as an advisor on strategic financing and acquisition transactions.

Josh Pollick, the Santa Monica-based co-leader of Orrick’s global technology companies group, said: “We have competed against this top-tier team for a decade and hold them in the highest regard. Now, we are thrilled to combine forces to build a true market leader.” 

Last month, Gunderson opened its 12th office, in Atlanta, after hiring three partners from Morris, Manning & Martin.