Five Decades of Innovation: Stradling’s Role in Orange County’s M&A Evolution

As Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth celebrates 50 years of client partnerships, its influence on the West Coast M&A landscape is unmistakable. From the 1980's leveraged buyout boom to today's strategic and private-equity sponsored acquisitions, Stradling has consistently helped companies and investors turn complexity into opportunity. 

Building Momentum

Founded in 1975, Stradling emerged as corporate consolidation gained speed. The firm guided early pioneers through an era of conglomerate expansion, setting the stage for the takeover wave of the 1980s. While many chased scale, Stradling helped clients structure durable, value-driven deals—such as Winn Enterprises’ acquisitions of Knudsen Foods in 1983 and Foremost Dairies in 1985, forming the largest dairy company in the West.

From Conglomerates to Creativity

By the mid-1990s, consolidation had evolved into strategy. As the private equity boom and internet revolution took shape, Stradling advised on transactions that reshaped the tech, telecom, and banking sectors. Notable examples include Kingston Technology’s sale to SoftBank in 1996 and its 1999 management buyback, CKE Restaurants’ $327 million acquisition of Hardee’s, and AST Research’s sale to Samsung. Each reflected Stradling’s growing reputation for navigating complexity with entrepreneurial agility.

Surviving the Internet Bubble

After the 2000 dot-com crash, Stradling expanded into consumer and broader technology markets, advising on Mimi’s Café’s acquisition by Bob Evans Farms, Yard House’s sale to TSG Consumer Partners, PairGain Technologies’ $2.5 billion acquisition by ADC Telecommunications, Powerwave Technologies’ $407 million acquisition of LGP Allgon Holdings, MorphoTrak’s (formerly Printrak) sale to Motorola, and Computer Motion’s acquisition by Intuitive Surgical. Even during the 2008 financial crisis, the firm’s disciplined approach kept deals moving when markets froze.

A Decade of Reinvention

The post-recession recovery ushered in renewed momentum. Private equity–sponsored dealmaking surged, and Stradling became a trusted partner to leading firms, including Clearlake Capital, advising on more than 30 transactions. The firm continued guiding industry leaders through transformative mergers, including CKE’s $1.5 billion acquisition by Apollo Global Management and multiple transactions for Ceradyne leading to its $860 million sale to 3M in 2012.

The New Era of Strategy

Today, M&A is about evolution as much as expansion. In the wake of the pandemic, clients like Salas O’Brien and Gallant Capital have accelerated growth through targeted acquisitions where agility and insight matter as much as capital. As Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth celebrates 50 years of client partnerships, its influence on the West Coast M&A landscape is unmistakable. From the 1980’s leveraged buyout boom to today’s strategic and private-equity sponsored acquisitions, Stradling has consistently helped companies and investors turn complexity into opportunity.

Recent Transactions

Recent transactions include Operation Technology’s acquisition by Schneider Electric, inXile Entertainment’s sale to Microsoft, Deckers Outdoor’s sale of the Sanuk brand to Lole, multiple acquisitions for Foundation Building Materials, Verlinvest’s investment in Pedego, the sale of Econolite Group to Bridgepoint and Porsche SE, K1 Speed’s acquisition of Autobahn Indoor Speedway, and Gallant Capital–backed Reveal Data’s acquisition by K1 Investment Management.

Looking Forward

Since 2020, Stradling has executed approximately 200 M&A transactions, guiding clients through complexity with clarity and foresight. With a deep understanding of shifting markets and client needs, the firm continues to help the next generation of entrepreneurs and acquirers turn innovation into opportunity.