SiliconBeat

Tesla Motors, the buzz-worthy San Carlos developer of that seeming oxymoron, green performance automobiles (pictured), said that Larry Sonsini has joined its board of directors. Sonsini, who is chairman of arguably the premier law firm of Silicon Valley–Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati–is referred to in Tesla’s press release today as “one of the country’s best-known governance experts,” having been named “one of the most influential players in U.S. corporate governance” by Directorship magazine.

Sonsini, pictured here testifying before Congress regarding as a legal advisor to Hewlett-Packard during hearings looking into HP’s efforts to spy on its own directors, also served on some boards whose compensation practices drew some fire, including the New York Stock Exchange whose former chairman and chief executive, Richard Grasso, resigned in 2003 amid a furor over his lavish pay deal. Sonsini himself was mentioned as a possible replacement as chairman, a plan he evidently rejected, and he left the NYSE board by the end of that year. Sonsini also served on the board of Brocade Communications during a time when the company’s chief executive was involved in stock option backdating. He left Brocade’s board in 2005.

In addition to chairing the board at his law firm, Sonsini also serves as a director at Echelon, another buzzed local company with green credentials that makes energy-saving networking equipment.

Laurie Yoler, who has served on the Tesla Motors Board of Directors since the company’s founding, will transition to the Tesla Motors Advisory Board, apparently to make room for Sonsini.