Merricott Law

Corporate & Business Law | Litigation & Dispute Resolution | China-U.S. Cross-Border | Data Privacy & Technology

Silicon Valley counsel

Based in the heart of Silicon Valley, we provide legal counsel at the intersection of law, technology, and business.

We help companies handle corporate work, commercial disputes, China-U.S. matters, and data privacy issues in California and across the United States.

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News & Resources

Notes on issues that come up in the practice. See all

From Blanket Denial to Conditional Licensing: The New Landscape of U.S. AI Chip Export Controls on China in 2026

In mid-January 2026, U.S. rules on AI chip exports to China moved from a presumption of denial to case-by-case licensing, with a 25 percent tariff on chips that meet the same performance thresholds.

California Executive Order N-9-26: The AI “Kill Switch” Moves from Vetoed to Accelerated, but Not Yet to Law

On September 18, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-9-26 directing recommendations on California AI safety laws by November 16, 2026, including a frontier-model kill switch. The order itself creates no binding duties.

Prompt response

We review new inquiries promptly and tell you whether we can take the matter.

Clear process

A conflicts check comes first. Then a plan, a fee discussion, and regular updates.

Practical counsel

Advice shaped by U.S. and China business practice, written for the decision in front of you.

Our Expertise

Corporate & Business Law

We advise companies, entrepreneurs, and business owners on corporate matters, commercial contracts, employment issues, and day-to-day operations. With experience across both U.S. and Chinese legal and business environments, we give practical counsel on growth, transactions, and commercial relationships.

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Litigation & Dispute Resolution

We represent businesses and individuals in commercial and civil disputes in California state court and U.S. federal court. The work includes commercial disputes, construction matters, landlord-tenant cases, personal injury defense, and other high-exposure claims.

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China-U.S. Cross-Border Business

We advise Chinese companies doing business in the United States. The practice combines U.S. legal work with an understanding of the commercial, regulatory, and operational issues that come with operating across both markets.

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Data Privacy & Technology

We advise technology companies and other businesses on U.S. data privacy and compliance issues. The work includes defending claims involving CIPA, ECPA, website tracking, pixels, and cookies, and building pre-litigation and remediation plans before a dispute becomes a filed case.

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How we work

New matters follow a short path from the first note to an agreed plan. We do not start confidential work until a conflicts check is done.

1. First note

Email or call with the company name, a short description of the issue, and any deadline. That is enough for us to see whether the work fits the practice.

2. Conflicts check

We confirm we can take the matter before you send confidential information. If we cannot, we say so as promptly as we can.

3. Scope and fees

If we can proceed, we set out who will handle the work, what it covers, and how it will be billed. The engagement starts only after both sides agree.

4. Ongoing work

You get updates as the matter moves: the next step, the open issues, and who is responsible. The plan can change when the facts change.