Daniel R. Mitz

Jones Day partner Mitz is a fixture in the Silicon Valley technology world. From hardware to software on both sides of a transaction, Mitz has represented young high-growth companies, large retail corporations, and, more than any industry, the old rank-and-file semiconductor companies that are contending with an ongoing wave of consolidation.

"I'm a technology guy," Mitz said. "That's been my focus for 20 years, representing companies and understanding how they work. I'm excited as I was when I started this job, it's an amazing journey."

Over the last two years, Mitz has counseled three Silicon Valley chip makers on both the sell and buy side in deals worth a near total of $29 billion. The largest, Analog Devices Inc.'s goal to purchase Linear Technology Corp. for $14.8 billion, was announced July 26.

Linear, headquartered in Milpitas, was founded 35 years ago and went public in 1986.

"We represented Linear in the sale," Mitz said. "It's an example of one of Silicon Valley's premier semiconductor companies coming to an end," Mitz said. "I've been very involved in semiconductor consolidation, and I don't think it's going to stop."

The deal is expected to close by next summer.

Mitz also led the Jones Day team representing Fremont-based Lam Research Corp. in its $10.6 billion acquisition of KLA Tencor Corp. Announced last year, the companies had set Oct. 20 as a possible closing date, but some unexpected antitrust regulatory hurdles could possibly extend that, according to statement from both companies.

His third semiconductor deal — initially representing San Jose-based Atmel Corp. in its $4.6 billion sale to Dialog Semiconductor PLC in the U.K. — took an interesting turn when Microchip Technology Inc. put in a cash-superior competing bid to Dialog's stock offer.

Dialog's stocks had been slipping — by roughly 36 percent — when Atmel ultimately terminated its agreement under a $137 million fee in favor of Microchip's $3.56 billion offer.

Mitz also brought his skills to cross-border software deal on the buy side, representing Dutch company Randstad Holding NV in the $430 million acquisition of employment networking site Monster Worldwide Inc, a deal announced in August.

— Banks Albach