US firm forms UK practice
Cooley LLP, a leading technology and life sciences US law firm, has announced that it has launched a UK practice in London. Cooley’s new office will include 20 partners and more than 55 lawyers and other professionals in total.
“Cooley plans to make a big impact in London,” said Joe Conroy, Cooley’s chief executive officer. “We have brought together partners who are the very best in their fields, and who share our values and approach to achieving success for our global client base. From our San Francisco and Silicon Valley roots, we have grown to 850 lawyers, solving complex business and litigation issues for the world’s most dynamic companies.”
Justin Stock, the former head of Morrison & Foerster’s London corporate practice, will lead the new office. It will comprise numerous other prominent lawyers in the London market, including some of the UK’s top practitioners in complex, high-stakes international disputes and in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial transactions; particularly in the technology and media sectors—core strengths of Cooley.
“It is fantastic to be able to launch in the UK with such a great team already in place,” Justin says. “We have substantive strengths in areas essential to Cooley’s global client base. I am energised by the sheer talent, personality and determination of all who are involved in this exciting opportunity. We are ready to build a thriving and successful UK-based practice together. We intend to take the momentum of this launch and continue to attract top legal talent with the same drive and spirit.”
The office will include some of London’s most successful corporate, technology and IP partners, including David Bresnick, Chris Coulter, Ed Lukins, and Nicholas Bolter, as well as renowned litigators Laurence Harris and Kevin Perry and a leading reinsurance group of five partners led by David Kendall. Further leading practitioners bring experience in competition, insolvency, employment and privacy.
The vice-chair of Cooley’s business department and partner in charge of its Washington DC office, Ryan Naftulin, will relocate to London. As a US liaison partner, his focus will be on office integration and building opportunistic growth for the firm.
“London has an entrepreneurial spirit that we understand well and a burgeoning tech sector to which we can contribute,” says Ryan, who has spent 16 years with the firm, in DC and Silicon Valley.
“Most of us have practiced together for years,” said Laurence Harris, who led discussions for the Edwards Wildman team that is joining Cooley. “We have all been struck by the quality and genuineness of Cooley’s leadership and wider partnership, as well as our new London-based colleagues. We look forward to being part of building something special here in London.”
