Semiconductors & Microelectronics

Holland & Knight's Semiconductors & Microelectronics Industry Group supports companies, investors and institutions across the full semiconductor value chain with integrated legal, regulatory, public policy and strategic advisory services. We help clients secure government incentives, navigate complex regulatory regimes, execute strategic transactions, protect and commercialize intellectual property (IP), and scale operations in the increasingly competitive and highly regulated global environment.

The semiconductor ecosystem is expanding rapidly, driven by unprecedented public investment, evolving trade and technology controls, and heightened geopolitical and operational risk. Our team helps clients understand, anticipate and respond to fast-changing dynamics in this sector of ever-growing importance, serving as ecosystem counsel and supporting what semiconductor companies and capital providers need at every stage. From incentives and site selection, supply chain and procurement, export controls and compliance to transactions and financing, workforce strategy, cybersecurity and dispute resolution, we know the industry inside and out. Our mission is to deliver forward-looking advice that turns challenges into opportunities and advances your business.

We help semiconductor stakeholders translate business objectives into effective policy and government engagement/capture strategies, advising on legislative and regulatory advocacy, agency engagement, appropriations strategy, coalition‑building and trade association leadership.

Leveraging deep relationships across the U.S. Congress, executive branch and key federal agencies (at both the political and career level), we help clients anticipate developments, shape implementation frameworks and navigate political dynamics that affect incentives, procurement, trade and regulation.

Government Contracts and Defense‑Related Microelectronics

Our attorneys counsel semiconductor companies and supply chain partners on government contracting and procurement matters, helping them identify opportunities, submit bids and proposals, negotiate contracts and ensure compliance.

We advise clients supporting the DOW – such as the Trusted and Assured Microelectronics (T&AM) Program, Microelectronic Commons and service labs – and other federal agencies on Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), Civil Affairs (CA) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA)‑based opportunities. This counsel extends to consortia participation, domestic sourcing requirements, cost and pricing issues, and supply chain compliance/reporting, with particular focus on microelectronics critical to defense and national security systems and platforms.

International Trade, Export Controls and Global Compliance

Holland & Knight counsels semiconductor companies on compliance with U.S. and multilateral export controls, sanctions, customs and trade regulations that directly affect global operations and supply chains. Our team advises on Export Administration Regulation (EAR) classifications, licensing strategies, sanctions compliance, supply chain diligence and regulatory engagement with the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control and other authorities. We also represent clients in high‑stakes enforcement matters, disputes and advocacy involving trade and export control regimes.

Corporate, M&A, Private Equity and Strategic Transactions

Our attorneys advise public and private companies, investors and strategic partners across the semiconductor ecosystem on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, minority investments and complex commercial arrangements. This includes recent transactions where the U.S. government chose to take an equity stake in client offerings/operations

We bring deep industry understanding to transaction structuring, due diligence and risk allocation, including issues related to sensitive technologies, government incentives, supply chain dependencies, and long‑term manufacturing and sourcing relationships.

Tax and Project Finance, Section 48D

Our experienced tax lawyers advise semiconductor manufacturers and investors on incentive‑driven project development, including planning for and implementing the Section 48D investment tax credit and other advanced manufacturing incentives.

We support transaction structuring, documentation strategy, loan and grant coordination, and tax benefit integration into broader financing and operational models, helping clients maximize value while managing compliance risk. Our team also assists clients with tax audits and litigation on industry matters, including the research credit.

IP Protection and Litigation, Technology Transactions

Holland & Knight's Semiconductors & Microelectronics Industry Group helps companies defend themselves against IP assertions and protect, commercialize and enforce IP critical to innovation and competitive advantage.

Our services encompass offensive and defensive representation in complex patent disputes and litigation related to semiconductor technologies, processes and products, and we have extensive litigation experience in U.S. district courts and before the U.S. International Trade Commission. We also provide strategic counsel on patent portfolio development and monetization, patent prosecution, competitive market intelligence, IP due diligence for transactions, licensing and collaboration agreements, and trade secret protection.

Our team possesses deep technical understanding of semiconductors, spanning circuit design, manufacturing processes, applications and packaging technologies. We have litigated matters involving a wide array of advanced semiconductor technologies, among them silicon carbide Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs), silicon layer formation and ion implantation, multilayer wiring and interconnect structures, implantation/doping and surface-mount packaging structures.

Environmental, Permitting and EHS

Semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging facilities face some of the most demanding environmental and safety requirements of any industrial sector. Our attorneys advise clients on environmental strategy, permitting and compliance throughout the life cycle of fabrication, packaging and advanced manufacturing projects.

We support air, water, wastewater, stormwater and hazardous materials permitting, as well as National Environmental Policy Act and state environmental reviews, electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) program design and audits, and enforcement defense. Our team works closely with clients to manage regulatory risk, maintain project schedules, and constructively engage with regulators and local communities.

Energy, Utilities and Infrastructure

With reliable access to power, water and supporting infrastructure foundational to semiconductor manufacturing, we advise clients on power procurement and power purchase agreements, renewable energy strategies, grid interconnection, utility service negotiations, water sourcing and wastewater capacity arrangements, and infrastructure development agreements. Our integrated approach aligns energy and infrastructure planning with incentives, permitting, construction and long‑term sustainability goals.

Real Estate, Site Selection and Economic Development

Our team supports semiconductor companies and investors with site selection, land acquisition, zoning and land use approvals, infrastructure and utility coordination, workforce development efforts and negotiation of economic development incentives. We help clients evaluate and execute complex location decisions that balance regulatory requirements, utilities, workforce availability, incentives and long‑term operational needs for capital‑intensive facilities.

Labor, Employment and Workforce Strategy

Holland & Knight provides comprehensive employment and workforce counseling tailored to the semiconductor industry, advising on employment law compliance, workforce planning, executive compensation, benefits and labor relations strategy, as well as workforce development initiatives involving universities, community colleges and government‑supported training programs. Our employment counsel is closely integrated with immigration strategy to support global talent mobility for engineers, researchers and executives.

Cybersecurity, Data and Technology Risk

We counsel clients on cybersecurity governance, incident preparedness and response, contractual allocation of cyber risk, and compliance obligations arising from government contracts and incentive programs. Our team assists companies in protecting sensitive technology, trade secrets and proprietary data through governance frameworks and internal controls aligned with modern supply chain realities.

Investigations, Compliance and Risk Management

Our attorneys advise semiconductor stakeholders on investigations, compliance and risk management issues arising from government incentives, procurement, trade and global operations. We also assist with internal investigations, regulatory inquiries, compliance program design and crisis response, helping clients manage risk while maintaining operational continuity.

Building Your Strategy Across the Semiconductor Ecosystem

Whether your company is pursuing CHIPS Act incentives, expanding manufacturing capacity, navigating export controls, executing strategic transactions or protecting critical IP, Holland & Knight provides the integrated counsel and agile vision needed to help you move quickly and confidently in the complex and evolving semiconductor landscape.