Cooley LLP

Cooley LLP is an American international law firm headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Founded in San Francisco in 1920 by Arthur Cooley and Louis Crowley, the firm developed from a regional corporate practice into a prominent adviser to technology companies, life-sciences businesses, venture investors, emerging companies, and public issuers. Its work spans corporate transactions, venture-capital financings, public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation, intellectual property, commercial and complex litigation, employment, fund formation, tax, real estate, financial services, retail, energy, clean technology, and other regulated industries. The firm’s identity is closely associated with Silicon Valley and the broader innovation economy. During the 1950s, Cooley helped form businesses including Raychem and National Semiconductor, and in 1958 it helped establish Draper, Gaither and Anderson, described as the first venture-capital partnership organized on the West Coast. These connections contributed to a long-term focus on entrepreneurs, investors, venture funds, and companies moving from formation and private financing to public markets. Cooley represented Genentech and Amgen in initial public offerings in the early 1980s, facilitated Qualcomm’s IPO in 1989, incorporated NVIDIA in 1993, and later handled NVIDIA’s public offering in 1999. The firm has also maintained a substantial intellectual-property and litigation practice. In the early 1970s, under an earlier name, it represented Disney in Walt Disney Productions v. Air Pirates, a copyright and trademark dispute. Its broader client work has connected corporate, technology, life-sciences, regulatory, and intellectual-property capabilities, allowing the firm to advise companies across multiple stages of development rather than focusing only on courtroom litigation or transactional work. Cooley moved its principal center of operations from San Francisco to Palo Alto in the late 1980s. It expanded internationally in January 2015 by opening in London with a sizeable practice assembled from lawyers recruited from established firms. The firm later opened a Beijing office in 2018. Its reported office network includes ten U.S. cities together with London, Shanghai, Beijing, Brussels, and Singapore, giving it a cross-border platform while retaining a strong U.S. technology and life-sciences orientation. Growth has included both organic expansion and combination with other practices. In 2006, Cooley Godward merged with Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman, increasing the firm’s lawyer headcount from approximately 440 to approximately 550 at the time of the transaction. The firm has also been recognized by legal-industry publications for venture capital, technology, biotechnology, capital markets, tax, and other practices. Rankings and awards have included recognition from U.S. News & World Report, Chambers UK, Law360, The American Lawyer, Fortune, Crain’s New York, the National Law Journal, and China Business Law Journal. Like other large law firms, Cooley has adjusted staffing in response to economic cycles. It eliminated 114 positions in 2009 amid an uncertain economy. After expanding hiring in 2020 and 2021 to meet what it described as strong demand, the firm concluded that some practices had become substantially overbuilt when demand weakened in 2022. It subsequently laid off 150 employees, instituted a hiring freeze, and changed the expected start timing for some incoming associates. For certain corporate-practice hires scheduled to begin in 2024, it offered a choice between starting in January 2024 or deferring for an additional year in exchange for a $100,000 stipend. Cooley remains an active, privately held professional-services organization. Its competitive positioning rests on a combination of startup and venture-capital relationships, public-company and capital-markets experience, technology and life-sciences expertise, intellectual-property capability, and an international office network designed to support companies and investors across major commercial markets.

Cooley LLP traces its origins to San Francisco, where Arthur Cooley and Louis Crowley founded the firm in 1920. Its early development centered on business and corporate legal work, eventually connecting the firm to the industrial, technology, and investment communities emerging on the U.S. West Coast. In the 1950s, the firm helped form Raychem and National Semiconductor. In 1958, it also formed Draper, Gaither and Anderson, identified in the available reference material as the first venture-capital partnership organized on the West Coast. These activities helped establish a durable relationship with entrepreneurs, investors, and innovative companies. The firm’s intellectual-property credentials became visible in high-profile litigation. In 1971, while operating under the name Cooley, Crowley, Gaither, Godward, Castro & Huddleson, it began representing Disney in Walt Disney Productions v. Air Pirates, a copyright and trademark infringement dispute. At the same time, its corporate practice continued to work with emerging technology and life-sciences companies. In the early 1980s, the firm took Genentech and Amgen public. In 1989, under the name Cooley, Godward, Castro, Huddleson & Tatum, it facilitated Qualcomm’s initial public offering. It incorporated NVIDIA in 1993 and later took NVIDIA public in 1999. During the late 1980s, Cooley relocated its offices from San Francisco to Palo Alto, strengthening its association with Silicon Valley. The firm’s practice mix expanded around corporate finance, venture capital, public markets, intellectual property, litigation, and sector-specific work for technology and life-sciences clients. In 1995, two former Cooley partners, Robert Gunderson and Scott Dettmer, established Gunderson Dettmer, another firm focused on venture-backed companies and investors. The departure is part of the broader history of the specialized Silicon Valley legal market, although the later firm is a separate organization. On October 31, 2006, Cooley Godward merged with Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman. The transaction increased the combined firm’s reported lawyer count from about 440 to about 550. The New York Times described Cooley at the time as a leading Silicon Valley law firm. The combination broadened the organization beyond its regional roots while preserving its strong technology and corporate identity. International expansion accelerated in the 2010s. Cooley launched its London office in January 2015, creating a 55-lawyer practice and its first European office. The London team was recruited from the London offices of Morrison & Foerster and Edwards Wildman Palmer; Justin Stock, previously head of Morrison & Foerster’s London corporate department, led the new office. Cooley opened its Beijing office in 2018. The available reference material reports offices in ten U.S. cities as well as London, Shanghai, Beijing, Brussels, and Singapore. The firm has received recognition for venture capital, technology, biotechnology, tax, capital markets, and workplace practices. Listed distinctions include a 2011 U.S. Tax Court Firm of the Year award from International Tax Review, capital-markets recognition from Law360 in 2015 and 2019, Chambers UK recognition in 2016, and top-category recognition from U.S. News & World Report for venture-capital and technology law in 2018. Fortune and Crain’s New York also recognized the firm as a workplace. Later rankings placed Cooley among major U.S. and global law firms by revenue and lawyer headcount, including 2024 positions in the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, and Global 200 surveys. Cooley’s staffing history reflects broader legal-market cycles. In 2009, it eliminated 114 positions while citing an uncertain economy. After aggressive hiring in 2020 and 2021 in response to strong demand, the firm determined that some practices had become substantially overbuilt when demand did not continue growing in 2022. It laid off 150 employees, imposed a hiring freeze, and changed the start dates of incoming associates. Corporate-practice hires scheduled to begin in 2024 were offered either a January 2024 start or a further one-year delay with a $100,000 stipend. Cooley remains active as a private international law firm with a practice centered on innovation-driven companies, investors, public markets, intellectual property, and related disputes and regulatory matters.

• 2018

  Beijing office launched

  [1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Cooley expanded its international network by opening in Beijing.

• 2015

  London office launched

  [1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Cooley opened its first European office in London with a 55-lawyer practice.

• 2006

  Merger with Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman

  [1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  The October 31 merger expanded the firm from approximately 440 lawyers to approximately 550.

• 1999

  NVIDIA public offering

  [1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Cooley later handled NVIDIA’s public offering.

• 1993

  NVIDIA incorporated

  [1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Cooley incorporated NVIDIA.

• 1989

  Qualcomm initial public offering

  [1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Cooley facilitated Qualcomm’s IPO.

• 1971

  Disney copyright and trademark litigation begins

  [1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  The firm began representing Disney in Walt Disney Productions v. Air Pirates.

• 1958

  West Coast venture-capital partnership formed

  [1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Cooley formed Draper, Gaither and Anderson, described in the reference material as the first venture-capital partnership organized on the West Coast.

• 1920

  Firm founded in San Francisco

  [1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Arthur Cooley and Louis Crowley founded the firm in San Francisco.

A technology- and life-sciences-focused international law firm serving startups, venture investors, growth companies, public issuers, and established businesses through corporate, financing, intellectual-property, litigation, regulatory, and employment practices.

• Legal services

  Corporate and emerging companies

  Cooley advises startups, growth companies, established businesses, founders, and investors on formation, governance, financings, strategic transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. This practice is closely connected to the firm’s venture-capital network and supports companies as they move from early-stage operations through expansion and exit.

• Legal services

  Venture capital and fund formation

  The firm represents venture-capital funds, private investors, entrepreneurs, and portfolio companies in investment transactions and fund-related matters. Its long-standing West Coast relationships and work with emerging businesses are central to its positioning in this segment.

• Legal services

  Capital markets and initial public offerings

  Cooley advises issuers and other market participants on public offerings, securities regulation, reporting, and capital-markets transactions. Its historical IPO work includes Genentech, Amgen, Qualcomm, and NVIDIA, contributing to its reputation among technology and life-sciences companies approaching public markets.

• Industry-focused legal services

  Technology and life sciences

  Cooley combines corporate, financing, intellectual-property, litigation, regulatory, employment, and commercial advice for technology and life-sciences clients. The practice serves companies and investors operating in innovation-intensive sectors, including businesses preparing for financing, commercialization, strategic transactions, or public-company obligations.

• Legal services

  Intellectual property and litigation

  The firm handles intellectual-property prosecution, counseling, disputes, and broader commercial litigation. Its historical representation of Disney in Walt Disney Productions v. Air Pirates illustrates its involvement in prominent copyright and trademark litigation, while its current platform connects IP work with technology, life-sciences, and corporate matters.

• 2022

  Staffing reset after reduced demandStrategy

  Background

  Following aggressive hiring in 2020 and 2021, Cooley said several practices were substantially overbuilt when demand failed to grow as expected in 2022.

  Action taken

  The firm laid off 150 employees, instituted a hiring freeze, and delayed the start dates of some incoming associates.

  Aftermath

  Certain corporate-practice hires were offered the choice of starting in January 2024 or deferring for another year in exchange for a $100,000 stipend.

  stipend offered to certain deferred incoming corporate associates. $100,000 (2024 start-date deferral)

  Source

• 2018

  Beijing office expansionStrategy

  Background

  The firm continued developing an international office network to support cross-border clients and work connected with China.

  Action taken

  Cooley launched an office in Beijing.

  Aftermath

  Beijing joined the firm’s reported offices in the United States, London, Shanghai, Brussels, and Singapore.

  Source

• 2015

  Launch of the London platformStrategy

  Background

  Cooley sought to establish a European presence and extend its technology, corporate, and venture-capital capabilities internationally.

  Action taken

  The firm opened a London office with a 55-lawyer practice recruited from other London firms.

  Aftermath

  London became Cooley’s first European office and part of its broader international network.

  Source

• 2006

  Combination with Kronish Lieb Weiner & HellmanM&A

  Background

  Cooley Godward pursued a combination that would expand its lawyer base and broaden its platform beyond its established Silicon Valley profile.

  Action taken

  The firms merged on October 31, 2006.

  Aftermath

  The combined organization grew from approximately 440 lawyers to approximately 550 and was described by The New York Times as a leading Silicon Valley law firm.

  Source

• 2025

  Cooley receives China Business Law Awards recognition[1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  China Business Law Journal recognized Cooley in its 2025 awards covering leading Chinese and international law firms in categories connected with the Chinese market.

• 2022

  Cooley cuts staff and delays some associate starts after post-pandemic hiring expansion[1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Other

  After hiring aggressively in 2020 and 2021, the firm said several practices were substantially overbuilt as demand failed to grow as expected in 2022. It laid off 150 employees, froze hiring, and adjusted start dates for incoming associates.

• 2018

  Cooley opens its Beijing office[1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The firm expanded its international network by launching an office in Beijing.

• 2015

  Cooley opens its London office[1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Cooley established its first European office in London with a 55-lawyer practice recruited from other firms.

• 2009

  Cooley eliminates positions during the 2009 downturn[1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The firm laid off 114 people, citing economic uncertainty.

• 2006

  Cooley merges with Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman[1]Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The combination, completed on October 31, 2006, expanded Cooley Godward from approximately 440 lawyers to approximately 550.

1. 1Cooley LLPen.wikipedia.org