NEWS
Paul Hastings Further Strengthens Premier ECVC Practice in Northern California
July 08, 2025
SAN FRANCISCO – Continuing the expansion of the firm’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice and its capabilities in Northern California, Paul Hastings LLP today announced the addition of partner James Huie in San Francisco.
“Building our ECVC and broader corporate platform in Northern California is a strategic priority for the firm,” said firm Chair Frank Lopez. “James’ arrival will further strengthen our ability to advise clients across growth sectors, including life sciences and technology, at all stages of their life cycle.”
Joining from Wilson Sonsini, Huie advises life sciences and technology companies on general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and strategic partnerships. He also has extensive experience representing venture capital firms and other investors in private equity and debt financings. His practice focuses on representing early and late-stage start-ups throughout their life cycle, as well as venture investors.
At Paul Hastings, Huie will reunite with former Wilson Sonsini colleague Mike Pestana, who joined earlier this year in San Francisco and further build the firm’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice after the additions of David Ambler and a team from Cooley in Palo Alto and teams from Goodwin Procter in Boston and New York, including Ian Engstrand in the technology sector and Seo Salimi in the life sciences sector. Huie will also complement the launch of the firm’s Tech Transactions practice with the additions of Amir Ghavi, Chambers Band 1-ranked for Artificial Intelligence, and Sarah Gagan, Chambers Band 1-ranked for Technology and Intellectual Property.
Huie’s clients represent the full range of the start-up ecosystem, from one-person companies to unicorns preparing for public offerings, and have included Avive Solutions, Empirical Spine, Galatea Bio, Inquis Medical, Junevity, Neptune Medical, Noah Medical, Noctrix Health, Pluto Health, Pulsora and Vivalink.
“It’s impossible to ignore the momentum and growth Paul Hastings continues to see across the board,” said Huie. “I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to contribute my skills and experience in service of the firm’s top-flight roster of clients in Northern California and around the globe.”
About Paul Hastings
With widely recognized elite teams across 17 core practices, Paul Hastings is a premier law firm with a culture of excellence focused on providing intellectual capital and superior execution globally to the world’s leading investment banks, asset managers and corporations. For more information, visit www.paulhastings.com.
Practice Areas
Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Venture Capital
Securities and Capital Markets