William S. Coats III

Jeffrey E. Essner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Real Estate. Jeffrey E., who practices law in San Jose, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jennifer Jordan McCall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Jennifer Jordan, who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer Jordan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chip Lion is a partner in the Corporate Finance Group with Morrison & Foerster LLP in Palo Alto California where he is the immediate past chair of the firm’s Palo Alto Corporate Finance Group and is the firm-wide co-chair of firm’s Private Equity Fund Group. Mr. Lion regularly advises institutional investors and fund sponsors in connection with the formation of venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds, real estate opportunity and other private equity funds. Mr. Lion repre...

Erik Puknys’ career in intellectual property began more than 25 years ago, when he joined the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office as a patent examiner. Erik started his legal career at Finnegan’s Washington, D.C. office in 1994, and moved to California in 1997 to help open the firm’s Silicon Valley office. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in district courts around the United States, in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and in the U.S. Supreme Cour...

Bhanu K. Sadasivan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Patent. Bhanu K., who practices law in Menlo Park, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bhanu K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Erik Olson's practice focuses on the litigation of securities, corporate governance, and intellectual property disputes, with particular emphasis on clients in the biotechnology, medical device, retail, and high-technology industries. In securities-related matters, Mr. Olson has repeatedly obtained dismissals of federal class action lawsuits under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and successfully defended those dismissals before the Fourth, Ninth and Tenth Circuits for numerous pr...

Eric C. Bellafronto is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Eric C., who practices law in San Jose, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eric C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Armando Castro is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Armando, who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Armando is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Katrina Crafton Fluet is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Katrina, who practices law in Menlo Park, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katrina is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kim T. Schoknecht is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Kim T., who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kim T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.