Bill Munck, managing partner of Munck Wilson Mandala

 

Munck Wilson Mandala, a technology-focused firm based in Dallas, has added an office in Los Angeles by merging with Hecker Law Group, an intellectual property and entertainment boutique.

With the merger, Munck Wilson boosts its patent attorney strength to nearly 40, adding name partner Gary Hecker and three other lawyers from Hecker Law Group. The Texas-based firm now has 70 lawyers in Dallas, Austin, Marshall and Los Angeles. Additionally, the firm plans to expand its Miami operations, where partner Amanda Greenspon has been working for the past two years, the firm said.

William Munck, managing partner of Munck Wilson, said Los Angeles wasn't on the firm's radar but after a firm consultant introduced him to Hecker, they identified great synergies. And after due diligence, they realized the finances made sense.

“It's an exciting opportunity for firms like ours, midsized, with a specialty being tech-focused,” Munck said. “We've got to constantly be on the move — constantly morphing.”

Hecker said he had spent about 18 months looking for an opportunity to expand his firm and the merger with Munck Wilson provides many advantages, including providing a deep bench to support clients, in-house lawyers in corporate, M&A and employment law, a strong technology focus and lawyers to support complex litigation.

“Most importantly, they are really smart, really good people,” Hecker said.

“We really hit it off,” Munck said.

The merger became effective Jan. 1 and Hecker is now a partner at Munck Wilson. The others joining from Hecker Law Group are associate J.D. Sadighi, senior associate Chase Covello and of counsel James Slominski.

As an independent boutique, Hecker Law Group handled complex patent litigation, as well as work related to trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, rights of publicity, and C-suite counseling and licensing. Hecker has worked for such clients as Apple, Pixar, Visa, ADP, Mark Burnett Productions, Barefoot Sound, The Women's Conference, Young Hollywood, the University of Southern California  and TowerJazz Semiconductor.

Munck said he is hopeful the Los Angeles office will expand its head count to about 20 lawyers over the next two to three years.