Highly rated technology and IP lawyer Sarah Gagan has joined Paul Hastings as co-chair of its newly formed global technology transactions practice.

Based in its Boston office, she has moved over from firm Latham & Watkins, where she spent nearly 13 years, becoming a partner and the global vice chair of its data and technology transactions practice.

She will co-chair Paul Hastings’ new tech practice with AI and disruptive technologies partner Amir Ghavi, who joined the New York office from Fried Frank earlier in the month. Gagan’s technology transactions experience includes advising companies at all stages of growth on strategic technology and IP transactions.

She advises across a wide range of industries including information technology, biotechnology, cybersecurity, fintech, AI and sustainable energy. 

Paul Hastings chair Frank Lopez said Gagan was a “market-leader and integral to the launch of our elite technology transactions global platform, as well an instrumental addition to our capabilities in the Boston market”.

He added that her arrival, following the recent addition of Ghavi, “is essential to supporting the robust demand of our tech clients for premier expertise for tech transactional matters”.

Paul Hastings noted that her clients have included Fortune 100 technology companies, global healthcare companies and financial institutions as well as emerging growth companies in all stages of their life cycle.

Gagan has also advised leading private equity and venture capital firms in their investments in and acquisitions of technology companies.

She said her decision to join Paul Hastings was “driven in equal parts by the overwhelming appeal of the firm’s current trajectory and the rare opportunity to lead an elite, interdisciplinary team in collaboration with a lawyer of Amir’s calibre in the continuously evolving technology space”.

She added on LinkedIn that “co-leading the new tech transactions practice from a technology-focused market like Boston is a truly exciting opportunity”.

Paul Hastings opened its Boston office in April 2024 with the arrival of a seven-lawyer private equity buyout team from Sidley Austin, led by global co-chair Alex Temel and office chair Bill Schwab.

Other recent arrivals to the Boston office include technology M&A and emerging companies/venture capital partner Ian Engstrand in September and M&A and shareholder activism defence partner Andrew Goodman, in August; both moved over from Goodwin Procter.

News of Gagan’s departure from Latham comes on the same day that former Latham colleague Matthew Gould jumped ship to launch a Boston office for UK Magic Circle firm Freshfields, its fourth US base.