Cooley Opens China Office

SILICON VALLEY, CA and SHANGHAI, CHINA--(Marketwire - Dec 13, 2011) - Cooley LLP announced today that it has opened an office in Shanghai, China. The office extends the firm's market leadership in advising innovative companies and investors in sectors spanning software, hardware and mobile technology, digital and social media, life sciences and clean energy into one of the world's most dynamic and essential markets.

"The opportunity to expand Cooley's footprint into China is extremely exciting given how well our core practices are aligned with the country's growth areas and how many of our clients are established in China and plan to grow aggressively there," said Joe Conroy, Cooley's chief executive officer. "We will bring to bear the full breadth of the firm's resources and experience in support of our Shanghai office and clients based in China or doing business there."

With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Cooley attorneys offer unique insight and experience to companies and investors in high-growth sectors. The firm's resources and services in China will span venture capital fund formation and investment, capital markets and corporate transactional advice, as well as market-leading experience advising clients in commercial, IP and securities litigation.

The office will be led by highly experienced Cooley corporate partners Brad Peck and Patrick Loofbourrow, who have relocated from California. Peck, who will head the Shanghai office, specializes in corporate and securities law and concentrates his practice in the representation of technology and life science companies ranging from start-ups to publicly held corporations. Loofbourrow focuses on representing emerging technology and life sciences companies, as well as venture capital and other firms that invest in such businesses.

"We are dedicated to establishing a long-term presence in China and continuing to build the Shanghai office through the addition of talented local attorneys," said Peck. "Given Cooley's market leadership in advising innovative companies across the United States, we believe we are well positioned to partner with and support our clients in the burgeoning global technology sector."

Cooley has been advising on China-related matters for more than 20 years. In 1989, the firm advised on the formation of the first institutional venture capital fund investing in China, and to date has formed 43 Chinese venture capital and private equity funds for nearly 20 fund managers. Additionally, Cooley represents various U.S. fund managers with respect to their investing activity in China, including fund managers with sponsored groups and representative offices in China.

"Given our robust levels of fund formation activity in China, we anticipate Cooley fund formation attorneys will spend a significant amount of time on the ground there in support of these clients and continuing to expand our presence in that market," said Craig Dauchy, head of Cooley's leading Venture Capital practice.

In addition, Cooley has been an active advisor in cross-border M&A transactions for clients in the United States and globally. The firm represents China-based companies in various securities and corporate matters and has advised on dozens of litigation matters for Asia-based companies and individuals, spanning commercial contracts disputes, product liability class actions, antitrust matters, internal investigations, and trademark and domain name disputes.

About Cooley LLP

Cooley's 650 attorneys have an entrepreneurial spirit and deep, substantive experience, and are committed to solving clients' most challenging legal matters. From small companies with big ideas to international enterprises with diverse legal needs, Cooley has the breadth of legal resources to enable companies of all sizes to seize opportunities in today's global marketplace. The firm represents clients across a broad array of dynamic industry sectors, including technology, life sciences, venture capital, clean energy, real estate and retail.

The firm has full-service offices in major business and technology centers across the United States in Palo Alto, CA, New York, NY, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Reston, VA, Broomfield, CO, Washington, DC, Boston, MA and Seattle, WA. The firm also has an office in Shanghai, China.