Matthew Sant provides legal and business counsel to some of the most innovative companies in the global economy, combining a general corporate practice with his specific expertise in technology transactions. Mr. Sant is Co-Chair of the firm's Emerging Technologies practice group, and is a member of the firm's Intellectual Property Transactions, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Private Equity practice groups.

Mr. Sant's intellectual property practice focuses on the structure and negotiation of complex licensing, development and commercial transactions involving technology assets.

• Mr. Sant advises numerous clients in connection with the acquisition of strategic patent portfolios and other intellectual property assets.  He also represents several research institutions and technology firms in connection with patent acquisition and licensing strategies.
• Mr. Sant represents several companies and funds exploring emerging "green" technologies, including the developer of hybrid and electric vehicles, the developer of proprietary "waste to energy" technologies, the developer of an ozone-friendly fire suppression system and a fund that has invested in solar and other renewable energy technologies.
• Mr. Sant negotiated the development and financing agreements for the venture that resulted in the successful flight of the first privately funded manned spacecraft, negotiated international technology transfer and supply contracts on behalf of an aerospace company and settled a complex licensing dispute on behalf of a client in the satellite industry.
• Mr. Sant structured content development and distribution agreements for several video game titles and represents an international developer of mobile operating systems.
• In the entertainment industry, Mr. Sant represented a major film studio in connection with its proprietary animation technology, served as production counsel for several prime time television programs and structured agreements for the acquisition and distribution of motion pictures.
• He served as the "interim" general counsel for a business software developer with operations in the United States, Europe and Russia.
• Mr. Sant helped pioneer the concept of the "connected community" in the real estate industry by structuring innovative partnerships between real estate developers and telecommunications providers.

Mr. Sant's corporate securities experience includes debt and equity financing, mergers and acquisitions, and public and private corporate securities.

• Mr. Sant represented an aerospace client in multiple rounds of debt and equity financing with an aggregate value in excess of $1 billion.
• Mr. Sant has represented a publicly traded semiconductor manufacturer in multiple strategic acquisitions.
• He has advised numerous start-up and development stage companies in connection with private financing transactions.
• He has represented buyers and sellers in distressed company transactions, including DIP financings and sales pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code.
• Mr. Sant represented a private equity fund in connection with multiple equity investments in technology companies.
• Mr. Sant represented an investor group in connection with a strategic investment in a telecommunications provider with operations on four continents.

Mr. Sant has been quoted in the national business and legal press on patent issues and has written and spoken on a number of topics related to his practice areas. In March 2008, Mr. Sant delivered a speech on legal issues affecting "green" technology at the Global Greentech Online Investor Conference.  He co-authored a chapter of Technology Law Settlements and Negotiations, entitled "The Technology Lawyer as Partner and Advisor."  In April 2006, Mr. Sant delivered a web seminar to an international audience entitled "Intellectual Property Boot Camp: What every business should know about intellectual property." Among his other publications and presentations are: "A False Sense of Security: Addressing the Growing Problem of Computer Crimes" presented at the 2005 International IT Law Conference at Southwestern Law School; "Convergence and the Changing Telecommunications Landscape," published in The Zone Magazine, March 2000; and "Security and Privacy in the Age of Electronic Mail" co-authored with Robert Steinberg, Esq., and presented at a guest lecture series at Harvard Law School, Columbia University Law School, and Boalt Hall (Berkeley) School of Law in the fall of 1998. Mr. Sant was twice named to the Southern California "Rising Stars" list by Los Angeles Magazine and his work in the aerospace industry was profiled in an article entitled "Flight Planner," published in the November 2005 issue of IP Law and Business.

Professional Activities

• Mr. Sant is a member of the American Bar Association, International Bar Association, International Technology Law Association, American Law and Economics Association and California Space Authority. Mr. Sant is active in the American Bar Association's subcommittee on International Technology Transfer Licensing and has participated in working groups that have commented on patent reform in China and the European Union.  He currently serves on the ABA Advisory Panel.
• In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Sant has a strong interest in foreign affairs and international relations.  He is a trustee and the current Chairman of the World Affairs Council of Orange County.  Mr. Sant is also a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, the western partner of the Council on Foreign Relations.  Mr. Sant was appointed a Fellow of the Southwest Assembly, in connection with the Next Generation Project of the American Assembly, and participated in the 2008 Atlantik-Brücke Young Leaders Conference in Hamburg, Germany.

Bar & Court Admissions

• 1998, California