Cleary Gottlieb Continues San Francisco Bay Area Growth With M&A Partner Christopher Moore

Firm Quickly Establishes Deep Corporate Team After Launching in California Last Fall

June 21, 2022

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP announced today that highly accomplished mergers and acquisitions lawyer Christopher R. Moore has joined its Bay Area offices as a partner.

Chris’ arrival continues Cleary’s expansion in California and follows the additions of tax partner Maureen Linch, antitrust partner Heather Nyong’o, and intellectual property, technology transactions, and privacy partner Marcela Robledo.

Chris joins from an AmLaw 50 firm where he served as managing partner of its Silicon Valley office. His practice focuses on advising technology and life-sciences companies on public and private M&A, activist defense, and corporate governance.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to the firm, especially at an exciting time of growth and opportunity in Northern California,” Cleary Managing Partner Michael Gerstenzang said. “Since our launch in the Bay Area last November, we have quickly established a strong corporate, antitrust, and litigation team well-equipped to handle the most complex transactions as well as the potentially challenging antitrust and litigation issues involved in those kinds of deals.”

Chris brings deep experience in cross-border and domestic transactions, carve-outs, and leveraged buyouts, and has worked on major acquisitions involving semiconductor, software, and life sciences companies. He also counsels companies and their boards of directors on governance and takeover defense matters.

“Chris’ impressive talents complement our team’s ability to guide clients through their most important deals and most difficult problems,” M&A partner Benet O’Reilly said. “I am excited to partner with Chris, and am thrilled that he will be joining our growing team in the Bay Area.”

Chris added, “Cleary’s move to the Bay Area late last year definitely caught my attention. I’ve long respected their domestic and cross-border capabilities, and am thrilled to be part of a team that is not only growing its presence in the Bay Area but also its capabilities for global clients.”

“Chris adds significant on-the-ground experience in the Bay Area and a successful track record, particularly in the tech space,” partner Marcela Robledo said. “I’m looking forward to working with Chris to provide our clients with the exceptional service and support offered by Cleary’s integrated global platform.”

Chris earned his B.A. and J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Cleary opened in California in November 2021. The firm’s Bay Area presence includes offices in Palo Alto and San Francisco.