Steven Tonsfeldt, a Partner at Cooley LLP, Represents Network Switchmaker Foundry Networks in Brocade’s Mergers & Acquisitions

Steven Tonsfeldt is a Partner at Cooley LLP and assists clients with Mergers & Acquisitions matters. He currently practices in Palo Alto area.

He represents both public and private companies in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, contested transactions and hostile takeover defense planning, as well as offering advice to private investors regarding their portfolio companies.

Early Life and Education

Tonsfeldt hails from Arizona and graduated with her BA in Communication Studies from High Point University’s innovative Media Fellow program, taking advantage of real-world projects, research opportunities, and attending NBC Television Critics Association press tours in Los Angeles – not to mention numerous internships that enabled her to graduate early!

Tonsfeldt added to Cooley’s existing Silicon Valley M&A team by recruiting Paul Weiss corporate partners Krishna Veeraraghavan and Kyle Seifried of Paul Weiss Corporate to advise Amazon; Ropes & Gray health care partners Matthew Hemington and Annie Lieberman from Ropes & Gray health care team of Matthew Hemington (a former Heller Ehrman partner), Annie Lieberman (from O’Melveny & Myers); who together formed part of Tonsfeldt’s venture law group in Menlo Park office for five years of leadership by Tonsfeldt as head.

Professional Career

Steven Tonsfeldt assumed his firm would back him when representing Foundry Networks against an expected bid from rival Brocade Communications Systems last spring, but when Heller Ehrman disbanded in October only Tonsfeldt and Kristin Kercher remained behind with only minimal staff for bill collection and file forwarding services.

His clients included both public and private companies involved in domestic and cross-border M&A deals, contested transactions, hostile takeovers and hostile bids for control. In addition, he is an author and frequent speaker on corporate law topics relating to M&A deals – such as speaking at the Delaware Business Law Forum of the American Bar Association.

He currently sits on the Negotiating Committee of The Dealmakers in M&A and was named to both The American Lawyer’s M&A Hot List and Lawdragon’s Global M&A Elite lists. Additionally, he provides advice to both private and public clients for acquisition transactions – including large technology deals dependent on financing arrangements.

Achievement and Honors

Cooley LLP is a premier national law firm dedicated to transformative transactions and high-stakes litigation where innovation meets the law. Boasting over 900 attorneys spread throughout North America, Europe and Asia – with Steven Tonsfeldt serving on their Corporate/M&A Practice Group and Negotiated Acquisition Subcommittee of the Business Law Section at American Bar Association.

HPU recognizes an exceptional education as one that includes real-world experience and student-faculty collaboration. Summer Tonsfeldt, who graduated early from HPU’s Media Fellows program and completed five internships and a semester abroad study. While in Los Angeles meeting public relations reps and interviewing top talent agents. HPU alumni range from NFL players, Broadway performers, cancer researchers – each student at HPU enjoys unique learning experiences!

Personal Life

As Steve Tonsfeldt accepted Heller Ehrman’s offer of assistance when representing Foundry Networks against an expected bid from rival Brocade Communications Systems, he assumed they would remain standing as backers against rival bids from Brocade Communications Systems. But then came the credit crisis; and soon thereafter several corporate department lawyers from Heller Ehrman decided to switch firms, leaving only Tonsfeldt and partner Kristin Kercher working out of its Menlo Park office – continuing work against Brocade.

Tonsfeldt currently works at Cooley where he assists clients with Mergers & Acquisitions matters and Securities & Corporate Finance concerns. He lives in Palo Alto with his wife; in his free time he enjoys hiking, golfing and spending time with Sheila the dog.