insight detail
Firm Advises IonQ on Agreement to Acquire Lightsynq Technologies
- 05/08/25
- Client Highlights
- Communications and Networking
- Quantum Computing
On May 7, 2025, IonQ, a leading commercial quantum computing and networking company, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Lightsynq Technologies Inc., a Boston-based start-up founded by former Harvard University quantum memory experts. Lightsynq’s team and IP are expected to significantly accelerate both IonQ’s quantum networking and quantum computing roadmaps. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is advising IonQ on the transaction.
Lightsynq was founded by former Harvard quantum networking experts and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Center for Quantum Networking leaders Dr. Mihir Bhaskar (CEO), Dr. Bart Machielse (CTO), and Dr. David Levonian (CPO) with the goal of building the leading photonic interconnect platform to enable high-fidelity, multi-nodal qubit operations. Lightsynq’s approach not only supports modular scalability, but also advances fault-tolerance for creating the world’s most powerful interconnected quantum systems. Lightsynq’s unique architecture provides a powerful platform to support IonQ’s quantum computers and advance the company’s quantum networking roadmap.
IonQ will also acquire ownership of Lightsynq’s portfolio of over 20 technology patents and patent applications related to quantum memory, further strengthening IonQ’s growing intellectual property position.
The Wilson Sonsini team advising IonQ on the acquisition includes:
M&A
Rich Mullen
Brian Chan
Hallee Moore
Elia Perez Villamarin
Austin Wolfe
Melis Kilic
Matt Katona
Corporate
Mark Fitzgerald
Mark Bass
Rozman Lynch
Technology Transactions
Jamie Clessuras
Allegra Sachs
Chris Murray
Graham Hendrick
Mina Li
Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity
Matt Staples
Daniel Chen
Dantam Le
Tax
Derek Wallace
Anjali Krishnan
Employee Benefits & Compensation
Matt Norgard
Jason Chan
Laura Yun
Employment Litigation
Matt Gorman
Quinn Christie
National Security/Export Control
Josh Gruenspecht
Tarek Helou
Jahna Hartwig
Seth Cowell
Rebecca Campbell
Grace Beck
Real Estate
Susan Reinstra
Sean Wilkinson
Alex Corluyan
Environmental
Martin Sul
For more information, please see IonQ’s news release.