Five Decades of Innovation: Stradling's Role in Orange County's Technology Revolution

Stradling Played An Integral Role In Shaping Orange County’s Technology Revolution 

As Silicon Valley grabbed headlines, a quieter but transformative technology revolution was brewing in Orange County—and Stradling was there from the start. Founded in 1975, just as personal computers moved from labs into homes, the firm didn’t just witness the rise of OC’s tech sector—it helped build it. For 50 years, Stradling has been both legal counsel and strategic partner to companies that transformed OC from an agricultural region to a global technology powerhouse.

Planting the Seeds of Innovation

Stradling’s tech journey began with Decision Control, Newport Beach’s first homegrown tech company. Its acquisition by Varian Inc. sparked a ripple effect that fueled OC’s emerging technology scene. “At that time software hadn’t yet made it onto the radar screen,” recalls founding partner Craig Carlson. “We were mainly involved in hardware and electronics.” As technology evolved, so did Stradling, positioning the firm to guide successive waves of innovation.

Building an OC Tech Dynasty

When Decision Control was acquired, its engineers launched new companies—including AST Research and Computer Automation—that Stradling helped grow from startups to industry leaders. Stradling took AST, a circuit board enhancement company, public in 1984, represented it through its rise as OC’s first major PC manufacturer, and advised on its 1997 sale to Samsung. Silicon Systems, another Stradling client, —creators of the first integrated chip for touch-tone phones—went from IPO in 1981 to acquisition by Western Digital in 2009.

This cycle of spin-offs continued. Engineers from AST founded Kingston Technology in 1987, addressing a memory chip shortage. Stradling guided Kingston through its 1996 sale to Softbank and its 1999 management buyback. These early successes seeded a self-sustaining tech ecosystem.

Expanding Reach & Lasting Impact

Early client relationships laid the foundation for decades of growth. Stradling advised major OC companies like Microsemi, QLogic, Newport Corporation, and Powerwave Technologies, adapting alongside their evolving needs.

The firm expanded into software (Kofax, Quest Software, The TriZetto Group), gaming (Interplay Entertainment, Virgin Interactive, InXile, Turtle Rock Studios), and advanced materials (Ceradyne), with Stradling leading these Orange County institutions through their IPOs or acquisitions.

In 2002, Stradling helped launch OCTANe, an organization integrating corporations, entrepreneurs, VCs, and universities to accelerate biomedical and information technology startups. Since 2010, OCTANe has helped more than 2,100 companies raise $11.1B and create nearly 37,000 jobs. In 2014, Stradling partnered with UCI to support Beall Applied Innovation, turning campus research into commerical products. 

Looking Forward

As Stradling celebrates its 50th anniversa­ry, Orange County’s technology landscape con­tinues to evolve. The firm that helped birth Orange County’s personal computer industry now counsels com­panies on artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other frontier technologies.

For five decades, Stradling hasn’t just practiced law— it has helped write the blue­print for Orange County’s transformation into a technology powerhouse.  Its next chapter promises to be just as innovative as its first.