William W. Eigner Profiled in SD Regional Chamber of Commerce "Business Action"

Q: Tell us about your role at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP.
A: I am a partner on the Business and Technology Team. My practice focuses on venture capital, angel capital and the financing, governing, operating, buying, selling and merging of growing technology and other businesses. We handle everything from telecommunications to biotechnology to intellectual property protection. I also spend time handling contractual and political issues involving telecommunications companies and independent power producers.

Q: How did you get to where you are professionally?
A: I graduated from Stanford University and received my law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Early on, I served as a United States Supreme Court judicial intern. I worked in San Diego following my first year of law school during the summer of 1984, during which time the Padres won the pennant. I loved it here and returned to San Diego upon graduating in 1986.

Q: What would you consider some of your greatest accomplishments?
A: Last year, The Daily Transcript listed me as one of San Diego’s top corporate attorneys, selected by my peers. That was a huge honor. The Daily Transcript also named me as one of San Diego’s 120 Top Influentials a few years earlier. Recently, the Chamber named me Volunteer Advocate of the Year, and I was named one of San Diego Metropolitan’s Metro Movers to Watch in ’09. However, being my daughter Elizabeth’s dad is my greatest accomplishment.

Q: What has your involvement with the Chamber been like?
A: I’m a member of the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee, which has given me the opportunity to advocate for an economic climate that helps emerging businesses thrive, not merely survive. I’m a past chair of the Chamber’s Emerging Business Recognition and Awards Committee and I’ve also served on the Chamber’s Energy Committee.

Q: What community organizations are you involved in?
A: I’m a member of the San Diego Venture Group, and I serve on the boards of the Mundoval Fund, a publicly traded mutual fund, and CommNexus, a local organization devoted to helping San Diego’s telecommunications industry. I also served on the Boards of Advisors for exciting, innovative companies such as chip design firm QuantumThink Group, Inc. (QThink), and bluedominoes, Inc., a company devoted to providing products, services and information for a safer, greener environment for children.

Q: What do you think the most important issues for the Board to tackle in the coming year are?
A: The two most important issues for me are to help make San Diego a haven for starting and growing emerging businesses, while maintaining our environment; and to improve our border infrastructure for trade, commerce and tourism – so that San Diego is a gateway to Mexico, not a cul-de-sac.