PALO ALTO, March 10, 2026 – Baker Botts L.L.P. has added Joseph Halloum as a partner in its Palo Alto office and West Coast M&A Chair. The addition of Halloum strengthens the Firm’s corporate capabilities and California presence to meet the evolving needs of companies and private equity sponsors at the forefront of artificial intelligence, software, semiconductor, and other critical and emerging technologies.

Halloum brings a wealth of experience having advised on a broad range of transactions, including public and private acquisitions, take-privates, carve-outs, growth investments, joint ventures, and reorganizations. He also regularly counsels boards of directors, senior management, and private equity funds on corporate governance and strategic matters. 

Halloum is deeply embedded in the Bay Area legal community and actively shapes its development. He teaches M&A at both Stanford Law School and Berkeley Law, and he co-founded and chairs The GC Roundtable, a premier forum that has brought together more than 500 California-based general counsels and chief legal officers to foster connection, dialogue, and leadership across the legal profession.

Halloum’s arrival accelerates Baker Botts’ deliberate expansion of its California platform. His joining builds on the Firm’s expanding bench of talent, following the addition of transactional tax partners Friedemann Thomma and Becca Chappell to the San Francisco office in October 2025 and the return of Corporate Partner Brian Lee in Palo Alto. The Firm’s Bay Area offices advise some of the world’s largest and most innovative technology companies on complex and high-stakes matters. 

“Joseph brings rigorous preparation, sound judgment, and strategic clarity to every deal,” said Shana Simmons, Chief Legal Officer at Zendesk. “He is a trusted partner to our team with exceptional client service, and I’m excited to see him continue that work for us at Baker Botts."

“Silicon Valley's technology M&A market runs on relationships and speed. Joseph has both,” Managing Partner Danny David said. "He knows how sponsors think and how management teams negotiate. That perspective closes deals.  Joseph’s arrival complements our sustained momentum in the Bay Area and enhances our ability to advise on transformative transactions.”

“Joseph's track record spans the full scope of what technology M&A clients require: a commercial approach grounded in business objectives, an ability to develop creative deal structures and the national recognition that comes from executing that work at scale,” said Corporate Chair Samantha Crispin. “His addition strengthens what our Bay Area team delivers for private equity sponsors and public companies alike.”

“I’ve built my practice alongside Silicon Valley companies and sponsors and understand the pace, complexity, and high expectations that define this market,” Halloum said. “In today’s technology deals, cross-disciplinary capabilities and seamless coordination are table stakes. What drew me to Baker Botts is its global technology platform, backed by a deep, market-leading bench that has shaped some of the most innovative and high-profile technology deals this past year, often behind the scenes on the most consequential and strategically sensitive matters. The Firm brings serious depth in the areas that matter most to technology clients and the judgment to push beyond conventional deal norms. As we expand in California, we’re building a Silicon Valley–focused platform that pairs elite M&A execution with that depth and judgment to create real advantage for clients.”

ABOUT BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.
Baker Botts is an international law firm whose lawyers practice throughout a network of offices around the globe. Based on our experience and knowledge of our clients' industries, we are recognized as a leading firm in the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Since 1840, we have provided creative and effective legal solutions for our clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence. For more information, please visit bakerbotts.com.