THE FIRM: Sidley Austin LLP, with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia and approximately 2,000 lawyers, is one of the largest law firms in the world. Our diversified global practice encompasses the entire spectrum of corporate, transactional, litigation and governmental matters. Nationwide and throughout the world, Sidley Austin LLP prides itself on the breadth of its practice and the quality of its representation of an extraordinary client base, including many of the world's leading industrial enterprises, financial institutions, professional firms, health care providers and media and communications companies, as well as governmental and public entities and sovereign nations.

THE PALO OFFICE: Sidley’s Palo Alto office was founded in 2009 by a group of lawyers with decades of experience in Silicon Valley. Our lawyers represent private and public companies, and their financing sources, across a broad array of industries, including technology, life sciences and alternative energy. We provide seasoned and pragmatic advice to businesses at all stages of the corporate lifecycle, from ground-breaking start-ups to mature multinational Fortune 500 companies.

Our corporate lawyers counsel private and public companies on venture capital financings, public offerings, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, strategic business alliances and the myriad of day-to-day legal issues arising in today’s fast-paced business environment. The Palo Alto corporate lawyers also manage the delivery of services to our clients, including executive compensation and benefits, tax, employment, intellectual property, regulatory and international matters. The firm’s core focus on the representation of corporate clients worldwide permits our Palo Alto lawyers to provide our clients of every size and in every industry with prompt, high quality legal advice in a cost-effective manner.

Our Silicon Valley lawyers work closely with our offices in major worldwide financial centers to assist clients on legal matters in countries outside the U.S. Our strength in cross-border transactions is enhanced by Sidley’s well-known regulatory practice in securities, antitrust, cybersecurity, national security clearance and telecommunications. A significant portion of our cross-border transactional and regulatory work involves companies based in or doing business in Asia.

Our intellectual property lawyers have litigated some of the most historic IP cases in the Silicon Valley and the International Trade Commission. We represent both emerging technology and Fortune 500 companies in IP matters, both locally and throughout the world, with special focus and experience in Asia. Our intellectual property lawyers have provided counsel to a wide range of major and emerging technology companies in managing their intellectual property portfolios and representing clients around the world in complex technology-based joint ventures, strategic alliances, licenses, outsourcing transactions and mergers and acquisitions.

NEW ASSOCIATES: In addition to a firmwide orientation, many of the practice groups provide additional group-specific orientation and training. Other opportunities include the Litigation Skills Program and "Corporate College." We engage in detailed, semiannual reviews of each associate's performance, progress toward partnership, and overall growth as an attorney. We normally begin considering associates for partnership during their eighth year. Progress toward partnership is determined on an individual basis and may vary among associates graduating in the same year.

SUMMER PROGRAM: Our summer associate program is designed to acquaint students with our legal practice, the people in our office, and the Silicon Valley area. Summer associates are given assignments generated by each work group. Assignments include research and writing projects, drafting documents, participation in or attendance of client conferences, negotiations, closings, depositions and court appearances.