After 14 years in Silicon Valley, Lowenstein Sandler partner Valeska Pederson Hintz has returned to her Austin hometown and joined Perkins Coie as a partner in the firm's emerging companies and venture capital practice.

The ECVC practice is one practice the firm is focusing on as it builds out its Austin office, which launched less than two years ago. Hintz, who joined Perkins Coie on Monday, is one of many lateral hires in Austin this year, as a number of Am Law 100 firms have opened offices in 2021 in the booming market.