Steven J. Tonsfeldt Joins O'Melveny & Myers

February 27, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sonja Steptoe
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
213.430.6384
ssteptoe@omm.com

Piper Hall
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
202.220.5022
phall@omm.com

SILICON VALLEY, CA─ O’Melveny & Myers LLP announced that Steven J. Tonsfeldt, a highly regarded mergers and acquisitions lawyer, is joining its Silicon Valley office as a partner and a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice.

“Steve is on the short list of preferred practitioners for the most important strategic M&A transactions in the technology, healthcare, and biotechnology industries in Northern California and we are delighted to have a lawyer of his caliber join O’Melveny,” said Gary Singer, the Co-Chair of the Firm’s Transactions Department. “Steve’s proven ability to complete deals large and small will be an enormous benefit to clients seeking to execute strategic M&A transactions and will complement our robust financial M&A practice.”

Tonsfeldt’s practice focuses on M&A transactions involving some of the world's major technology companies and most active buyers. During his 22-year career, he has led transactions with an aggregate value of nearly US$100 billion. A number of those deals have been headline news in legal and business trade publications. This past December, The AmLaw Daily national online legal newsletter named Tonsfeldt its “Dealmaker of the Week,” describing his representation of Foundry Networks in its US$2.6 billion sale to Brocade Communications Systems as “a rare success story” in the current difficult environment for large transactions.

Tonsfeldt was a shareholder at Heller Ehrman from 2003 until its dissolution late last year. He served most recently as co-chair of the firm’s corporate practice group and was a leader of its M&A practice for his entire six-year tenure. Prior to 2003, Tonsfeldt was with Venture Law Group, where he also headed the M&A practice. Tonsfeldt was selected for inclusion in the 2008 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He has also been recognized as a leading corporate lawyer in The Best Lawyers in America and listed among the Northern California SuperLawyers. Prior to practicing law, Tonsfeldt worked as a certified public accountant with Deloitte & Touche and taught accounting at University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to join a firm with O’Melveny’s scope and depth and to augment its global strategic M&A practice,” said Tonsfeldt. “I look forward to working with the rest of the team in developing creative ways to assist clients in their bet-the-company transactions.”

About Steven J. Tonsfeldt

Tonsfeldt earned a B.B.A., with highest distinction, from University of Iowa in 1982. He received a J.D. from University of California Berkeley School of Law in 1987.

About O’Melveny & Myers LLP

With more than 1,000 lawyers in 14 offices worldwide, O'Melveny & Myers LLP helps industry leaders across a broad array of sectors manage the complex challenges of succeeding in the global economy. We are a values-driven law firm, guided by the principles of excellence, leadership, and citizenship. Our commitment to these values is reflected in our dedication to improving access to justice through pro bono work and championing initiatives that increase the diversity of the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.omm.com