As Silicon Valley technology companies face increasing government scrutiny, experienced white-collar practitioners are becoming hot commodities among the law firms seeking to represent tech-focused clients.

In recent months, several Am Law 100 firms have hired former government prosecutors to bolster their white-collar defense capabilities in the Bay Area. They include David Callaway, a former chief of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California who joined Goodwin Procter from Baker McKenzie in May; Marisa Chun, a former DOJ lawyer who joined Crowell & Moring in April from McDermott Will & Emery; and Jina Choi, a former director of the San Francisco regional office of the SEC who joined Morrison & Foerster in March. 

“I have certainly noticed an uptick in the growth of white-collar practices within law firms already here in the Bay Area,” said Robb Adkins, managing partner of Winston & Strawn's San Francisco office, who has been building out the firm's white-collar practice.