Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced today that David Hernand, a leading mergers and acquisitions attorney focused on the media, entertainment and technology industries, has joined the Firm’s Los Angeles office as a Partner. “The tech, media and entertainment sectors are driving innovation amid rapidly evolving consumer behavior and market conditions,” said Alden Millard, Chair of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Committee. “David’s tremendous depth and diversity of experience advising on transformative M&A and other transactions will be invaluable to clients navigating these spaces, and we are very pleased to welcome him to Simpson Thacher.” Repeatedly recognized by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter as one of the leading dealmakers in the media, entertainment and tech industries, David advises a wide variety of clients on complex, high-profile transactions. His clients include companies, boards of directors and special committees, private equity and venture capital firms and high net worth individuals and families. David also counsels clients with interests across the consumer and retail space. He advises on the full spectrum of corporate transactions, including public and private M&A, corporate control contests, strategic partnerships and joint ventures, public and private capital raising deals and other general corporate matters. He has been recognized as a leading lawyer by numerous publications, including the Daily Journal, Chambers USA and The Legal 500. David joins the Firm from Paul Hastings, where he served as chair of its Century City office. “We have known and worked across the table from David for many years and he is the full package. He is widely recognized in the market for being a dealmaker who is technically superb, creative and commercially minded,” said Greg Klein, a Corporate Partner based in our Los Angeles office. “David’s skills and remarkable blend of experience make him the perfect addition to our West Coast dealmaking bench, which is known for advising companies and private equity firms on marquee deals,” added Tom Wuchenich, who leads Simpson Thacher’s Los Angeles office. “His hire reflects the ongoing growth of the Firm’s Los Angeles office.” “Simpson Thacher is an M&A powerhouse with an unmatched global platform,” said David. “The opportunity to do premier legal work at a Firm known for its collaborative and collegial culture made this an irresistible opportunity, and I am excited to join the team.” Simpson Thacher’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice is an industry-leader unrivaled in its reputation and unique in its breadth, and has advised on many of the most prominent U.S. and international transactions of the past several decades. The Firm’s clients include public and private companies, founder-owned and family-owned businesses, investors and boards. The scale and depth of the Firm’s private equity experience also gives the Firm insight into the needs of participants across the sector, making it the firm of choice for many of the world’s most sophisticated private equity firms. Built over nearly three decades, the Los Angeles office has been entrusted by clients to handle their most significant private equity fundraisings, mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions, as well as their most critical consumer class actions, securities litigation and other complex legal disputes. For more information, please click here.