DLA Piper’s acquisition of prominent insurance litigator Vanessa Wells in Palo Alto. Wells joined DLA Piper from Heller Ehrman. She focuses her practice on representing property-casualty and life insurance companies in business litigation, regulatory and other proceedings brought by the state or individuals claiming to represent consumers as a class. She also has substantial experience in defending securities fraud and consumer class action cases and in litigating trade libel and unfair competition.