Gray, Cary, Ames & Frye, the largest law firm in San Diego, ismerging with Ware & Freidenrich, the second-largest law firm inSilicon Valley, effective Jan. 1. The new firm will be called Gray CaryWare & Freidenrich.

Announcing the merger on Wednesday, Gray Cary managing partnerDon Rushing said, "The joining of the two firms is unique because thetwo most important areas for emerging technology and biotechnologycompanies in California, if not the country, are served for the firsttime by a full-service law firm" in two different geographic locations.

Gray Cary has about 165 attorneys and Ware & Freidenrich of PaloAlto has approximately 100.

Clients represented by the two firms include Abaxis, Biosys,Hambrecht & Quist, Montgomery Securities Inc., Protein Design LabsInc., The Scripps Research Institute and the University of San Diego.

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