Cooley LLP is adept in handling both the buy and sell sides of transactions for private and public companies, offering guidance on a broad spectrum of topics including ERISA, global stock plans, securities filings, and golden parachute arrangements. Barbara Mirza, co-chair of the practice based in Los Angeles, brings in-depth knowledge of compensation and benefits issues in mergers, de-SPACs, spin-offs, and sales. Fellow co-chair, Alessandra Murata, specializes in advising tech and life sciences organizations and management teams, with notable work such as advising Grindr on its SPAC merger with Tiga Acquisition Corp. The firm expanded its executive compensation and employee benefits offering to Chicago with the addition of Steve Flores in April 2023 from Winston & Strawn LLP. In New York, Nyron Persaud counsels a diverse range of clients, from emerging businesses to established public companies, particularly on IPOs and other significant corporate transactions.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Steve Flores demonstrates subject matter expertise and responsiveness.'

Key clients

  • Absolute Software
  • Acelyrin
  • Amryt
  • CinCor Pharma
  • ContentSquare
  • Etsy
  • Grindr
  • Horizon Therapeutics
  • Huntress
  • Insurance Auto Auctions
  • Instacart
  • Mind Medicine (MindMed)
  • Nvidia
  • Oyster Point Pharma
  • Roku, Inc.
  • Seatgeek
  • Tenable
  • VectivBio
  • Vital Farms
  • Zoom Video Communications

Work highlights

  • Advised Horizon Therapeutics on its agreement to be acquired by Amgen for approximately $28 billion.
  • Drafted and negotiated compensation issues for Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA) in its definitive merger agreement with Ritchie Bros.
  • Advised Grindr on its definitive agreement to merge with special purpose acquisition company Tiga Acquisition Corp., resulting in Grindr becoming a publicly listed company with a post-transaction enterprise value of $2.1 billion.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Barbara Mirza, Alessandra Murata

Other key lawyers

Steve Flores, Nyron Persaud