With a glut of plaintiffs work involving local tech companies, Seattle-based Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro has opened an office in San Francisco to be closer to the action.

The 38-lawyer firm tapped former Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins partner Reed Kathrein to head the operation. Kathrein will also oversee its two-lawyer Los Angeles outpost. Joining him in San Francisco will be two associates and an of counsel from the Lerach firm, which Kathrein departed late last year.