Horton will be based in both Sydney and Silicon Valley offices. His arrival coincides with Squire Sanders’ move to new permanent premises in Sydney, located in the Gateway building in the CBD.

Horton is an experienced, dual-qualified US and Australian attorney. With a unique legal career, based initially in Australia and then for the past 13 years in Silicon Valley, he focuses on venture and strategic financings, M&A and complex, cross-border intellectual property and technology transactions for emerging growth and later-stage technology and clean energy technology companies. Horton has experience helping Australian technology companies move to Silicon Valley and assists US and offshore multinationals doing US and Australian law deals in Australia.

His clients have included Yahoo!, Boeing Energy, Scatec Solar, Moser Baer India Limited, Hewlett Packard, Cisco, Kmart and Telstra, as well as numerous venture funds, strategic investors and successful technology businesses throughout Australia, the US, Asia and Europe.

Prior to joining Squire Sanders, Horton was a partner in the Silicon Valley office of DLA Piper. He presents regularly to research institutes, universities, incubators, industry bodies and government groups on US and Australian venture financing, IP strategy and licensing, renewable energy and general corporate and commercial law topics.

John Poulsen, Squire Sanders’ managing partner in Australia, said: “Richard is a fantastic strategic fit for the firm. His international experience is first rate and his depth of understanding of Silicon Valley business is a rarity in Australia. We are fortunate to have him on board.”

Horton joins partner and head of the Sydney office, Campbell Davidson, who joined Squires from Allens to launch the firm’s office in Sydney on 1 November 2012. There are now six lawyers based in Sydney and there are plans to continue to grow the office.

Michael Kelly, Squire Sanders’ managing partner for northern California, commented, “We are excited to welcome Richard to the firm. His depth of expertise in the technology sector complements our existing global capability and his dual qualification adds dimension to cross-border work between the US and Asia-Pacific region.”