By Jake Simpson

A Latham & Watkins LLP capital markets and corporate transactions partner who advises investment banks and issuers in the clean technology and life sciences industries has joined Cooley LLP as a partner in its San Francisco office, Cooley said Wednesday.

Andrew S. Williamson, formerly a partner in Latham & Watkins' Silicon Valley office, will work in Cooley's business department and strengthen its national corporate practice, the firm said.

Williamson's last day at Latham & Watkins was Monday, and he started at Cooley the following day.

Williamson was a partner in Latham & Watkins' prestigious corporate practice for six years prior to joining Cooley. Partner Kenn Guernsey, part of Cooley's business group in San Francisco, said Williamson is "a huge addition" to the firm's capital markets and mergers and acquisitions practices.

"He's a 15-year lawyer who has spent essentially his whole career at one of the premier practice fields in the industry by any measure," Guernsey said.

Though Williamson only started at Cooley on Tuesday, he has already paid tangible dividends for the firm, according to Guernsey.

"We've already involved him with a number of our partners across the country in strategizing on both deals and client relationships going forward," Guernsey said.

Williamson operates a broad corporate practice and mainly does capital markets and M&A work for investment banks, Guernsey said. He also advises technology and life sciences issuers, including clean technology firms.

"[Williamson's] top-level reputation and connections with leading investment banks and many of the most exciting companies in Silicon Valley and beyond will further strengthen our capital markets and M&A groups," Cooley CEO Joe Conroy said in a statement Wednesday.

Going forward, he will be working to integrate his client base with Cooley's and continue advising on corporate matters, according to Guernsey.

"We'll expect his practice here to mirror what it's been over the last 15 years — high-profile financings and M&A transactions," Guernsey said.

Cooley said the hire strengthens a practice group that is already posting record-setting numbers in 2012. The firm has advised on five initial public offerings and 15 follow-on offerings in 2012, raising more than $2.4 billion in the first quarter, according to Cooley.

Williamson had been at Latham & Watkins since 1997 and made partner in 2005. While at the firm, he was co-chair of its San Francisco corporate group before relocating to Silicon Valley in 2009.

He received his law degree from Georgetown Law.

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