Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo continued its recent expansion through lateral partner hires this week, announcing Tuesday that it has picked up a pair of corporate lawyers in Boston with extensive experience advising technology companies.

Ed Pease and Laurence Naughton, who are both joining as members, focus their practices on high-growth companies in the tech sector and beyond, according to Mintz. They also both come from law firms with strong ties to Boston—Pease joins from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, while Naughton joins from Choate Hall & Stewart.

Mintz managing member Bob Bodian described the pair in a statement as entrepreneurial and collaborative, adding that they would be a boon for the firm's clients and its practices.

“Their skills strengthen our existing practice, and help us to continue developing relationships among entrepreneurs as well as firms involved in venture capital, private equity and investment banking,” Bodian said.

Pease often represents entrepreneurs, startups and emerging companies on equity structures, raising capital, protecting intellectual property and complex commercial deals such as joint ventures and license agreements. He has experience working in several industries, including technology, life sciences, medical devices and financial services, according to Mintz.

Naughton, meanwhile, often represents both high-growth businesses and their investors in the venture capital and private equity spaces. His practice also includes a cross-border aspect, as he has advised non-U.S. companies, institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds in connection with their corporate legal needs in the U.S.

Discussing their move in an interview Tuesday, Pease and Naughton noted that before their times at Wilmer and Choate, respectively, they used to work alongside one another at the now-defunct Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, a Boston-based firm that dissolved in 2005.

“We've been discussing ways to get back together since 2005,” said Pease.

Beyond the opportunity to reunite, both lawyers cited Mintz's commitment to their practice areas and its recent string of strong financial results.

“From the first meeting we had an extremely receptive audience to our practice area and focus, and Mintz's strong desire to build out a high growth company practice,” said Pease.

Naughton echoed Pease, but also stressed the draw of Mintz's collaborative and teamwork-oriented environment.

“It felt like an exciting opportunity for us,” said Naughton. “At some level, it was an easy decision—the collaboration, the innovation here, the entrepreneurial environment, the commitment to the practice area.”

The arrival of Pease and Naughton at Mintz follows what has been an active past several months for the firm with respect to bringing lateral partners into the fold.

In February, the firm announced the addition of Robert Koen, who joined after serving at one time as the head of Mayer Brown's New York real estate practice. Koen's hire came after Mintz announced in January the addition of private equity partner Loretta Shaw-Lorello, who came from Covington & Burling, where she had been vice chair of the firm's private funds practice.

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