DAVID YOUNG, 41
FIRM: DLA Piper LLP
LAW SCHOOL: USC
SELECTED CLIENTS: Associated Press, Avaak, AWR, Crosscut Ventures, Docstoc, Gehry Technologies, GraphEffect, GRP Partners, GumGum, KidZui, Main Street Connect, r4 Vascular, Qualcomm, Vice, Zumbox
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 16
Biggest Deal: Represented Qualcomm in $805 million acquisition of Flarion Technologies Inc.
Most Difficult Deal: The most difficult deals are when there is a cultural disconnect as far as expectations, deal structure or customary practice. Deals get done differently in Silicon Valley versus New York, in technology versus real estate or manufacturing, and in the United States versus Europe or Asia. Lawyers certainly need to know what is customary in doing a deal, but also why it is customary so that they know when and how to deviate from that standard playbook when needed or appropriate.
Best Career Moment: In 2000, I moved to Los Angeles to found the L.A. office for Silicon Valley-based Venture Law Group. It was an amazing opportunity so early in my career and provided the platform to doing something entrepreneurial, similar to my early stage clients. Since that time I’ve had a front-row seat to watch the continued development of the venture capital, technology and digital media community here in Los Angeles.
Worst: At the first client board meeting I ever attended, as a very young associate, I poured steaming hot coffee into a wax-lined cup intended for water or soft drinks. I watched nervously as the wax melted and curled, floating in the coffee, but it got worse when the bottom fell out of the cup and the coffee instantly flooded the entire table and all papers, laptops, etc.
Highlight of Past Year: The successful acquisitions of my two most longstanding clients, AWR Corp. and SmartReply, by National Instruments and SoundBite, respectively. I had worked with both companies for more than 10 years. Working closely with early stage companies to build their businesses and successfully achieve their goals is very rewarding.
The Secret to Closing a Deal: Understanding the client’s business and objectives is critical. Being able to identify all of the issues in an agreement should be the easy part – the key is the ability to prioritize those issues and focus on the ones that really matter. Every decision is a business decision, and lawyering for the sake of lawyering is what gives attorneys a bad name in certain circles.
If I Weren’t an Attorney: I’d be at home with my family right now.
