Lowell Ness

Lowell Ness

Advisor

Lowell Ness is a partner and a founding member of the firm’s Emerging Companies Group in the Silicon Valley Office. He has considerable experience in securities law and corporate governance matters.

His practice focuses on high growth emerging companies and involves venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and private placements. His clients include startup companies from the earliest stage and well established public companies. Mr. Ness also represents both private equity and venture capital funds.

Recent transactions include representation of:

  • Premier Devices in its $84 million sale to Sirenza Microdevices.
  • Micrus Endovascular in its initial public offering and a secondary public offering.
  • PDF Solutions in its initial public offering and concurrent private placement.
  • Landec in a PIPE offering of common stock to private investors.

Mr. Ness acted as either company counsel or investors’ counsel in venture capital financings for BayPackets, Buildfolio, CaritaSoft, Chenomx, Cognigine, Convergence CT, CustomerNation, DeltaGen, Financial Engines, Ishoni Networks, Horizon Photonics, MariTech, MetiLinx, MediaQ, MIOX, Mobilitec, NavLink, Network Physics, NewPort Communications, nth degree software, OnFiber, Partnerware, peerMusic, Swift Financial, ValiCert, Varian, VirnetX and Zoom Systems.

He acted as either company counsel or underwriters’ counsel in public offerings by BankAmerica Corporation, Central Garden & Pet, ESS Technology, Fritz Companies, The Gap, Health Systems Design Corp, Il Fornaio, Novatel Wireless, Orbit Resources, PG&E, Providian, Select Comfort, S3 Incorporated, The PMI Group, Transamerica, Trendwest, Varian and West Marine.

He has also represented numerous companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions, including ABM Industries, ALSTOM, Business Evolution, Capstan, ESS Technology, FunMail, Intersperse, Kinders, Louisiana Pacific, MediaQ, MIOX, NeoVista Software, Outdoor Industry Group, PDF Solutions, Pinnacle Systems, PG&E, Promedix, Redwood Empire Bancorp, Saqqara, Symphony Systems, Topcon, Varian, Versatron, Windom Health Enterprises and Zend.

Mr. Ness began his career at the firm as a summer associate in 1993.

Mr. Ness has taught a course in Securities Regulation at Santa Clara University School of Law.

Mr. Ness is a frequent speaker at national MCLE seminars on topics that have included Legal Opinions, Drafting Stockholders’ Agreements, Corporate Governance for Family Businesses and Mergers & Acquisitions for LLCs.

Admitted in

  • California

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • State Bar of California, Business Law Section
  • Bar Association of San Francisco
  • Member, Executive Board, Law & Policy in International Business, 1992-1994