Cooley LLP stands out as a premier choice for emerging companies and investors across the start-up lifecycle. The firm has expanded its tech and venture capital capabilities with the opening of its Miami office in November 2023, led by Derek Colla, offering enhanced support to Latin American companies and investors. Co-head of the practice, San Francisco-based Peter Werner counsels high-growth entities and their investors on formation, financing, and securities deals. Also leading the team from San Francisco, Matt Bartus is celebrated for his ‘decades of experience’ assisting companies from their initial stages to pre-IPO. Mark Tanoury, located in Palo Alto, is known for guiding Silicon Valley emerging tech companies and venture capital investors through all stages of their development. Sale Kwon, also in Palo Alto, specializes in company formations, venture financings, and mergers and acquisitions. Rachel Proffitt, in San Francisco, offers advice to emerging clients, venture capital companies, and investment banks on venture capital transactions and securities offerings, while New York’s Adam Dinow is noted for his work with tech unicorns.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Cooley team doesn’t just provide deep legal expertise for emerging companies but they also become trusted business advisors, helping both experienced and first-time founders navigate the maze of starting and selling emerging companies.’
‘Sacha Ross and his entire team have been incredible partners for two of my companies and continue to be our most trusted and legal advisors.’
‘What I appreciate most about being a client of the firm is their ability to serve our needs both across a broad range of topics (e.g. payment regulatory matters to setting up foreign subsidiaries) while also having deep domain expertise in each practice area.’
‘I appreciate working with Matt Bartus because he is able to take their decades of experience and distill them into insights that effectively and efficiently serve our legal needs.’
Key clients
- Aqua Cultured Foods
- Alto Neuroscience
- ClearFlame Engines, Inc.
- Deepwatch, Inc.
- eFishery
- General Catalyst Partners
- Novo Holdings A/S
- Octave Health Group
- QED Investors
- QualSights
- QuikNode Inc.
- Runway AI, Inc.
- Smartrr, Inc
- True Botanicals
- Valor Equity Partners IV, L.P.
- Zepto AKA KiranaKart
Work highlights
- Advised General Catalyst Partners and others on their participation in Stripe’s $6.5bn Series I financing.
- Advised eFishery on its $200m Series D financing round.
- Advised Valor Equity Partners on its Series E funding round of premier defense technology start-up Anduril, which raised $1.48bn at a $8.48bn valuation.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading lawyers
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Sale Kwon
Cooley LLPDerek Colla
Cooley LLPPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Peter Werner, Matt Bartus, Sacha Ross