Many of those deals involved foreign companies, Mickelsen said, and that experience will be essential at White & Case. His goal is to work with U.S. clients that want to do business overseas, and foreign clients that want to invest in Silicon Valley. And it doesn’t hurt that he understands first-hand the challenges in-house counsel face, from budget constraints to compliance concerns.
“I just have a better appreciation of what clients need,” Mickelson said. “The last thing you need when you’re in-house is a memo that explains a problem you already understand.”
