Company Profile
Cooley Godward Kronish
Company Overview
Cooley Godward Kronish is defined by its people and its practice. Cooley’s attorneys are counselors, strategists and advocates for foremost private and public companies across a wide variety of industries and in all major technology fields. Our clients include entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, financial service organizations and research institutions.
We are nationally recognized for our expertise in protecting our clients' business interests and assets through timely prelitigation counseling and hard-fought adversarial proceedings. Cooley’s litigation attorneys have extensive experience practicing before state and federal courts nationwide, as well as regulatory agencies and alternative dispute resolution forums. In helping our clients grow their businesses, our business attorneys draw upon their experience with industry-leading public companies and their extensive work with innovative entrepreneurs and emerging growth companies. From forming creative start-ups and facilitating seed and mezzanine financing, through initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions and beyond, Cooley is as equally adept at representing a two-person start-up as it is Fortune 500 companies. Attorneys from different practice areas work together on client teams to handle the myriad issues presented by clients. This team approach facilitates the rapid training and development of associates in a supportive environment and enables associates to assume significant responsibility early in their careers. From day one, Cooley associates play a meaningful role in the resolution of the strategic and tactical issues that face our clients.
Cooley supplements the on-the-job training associates receive with Cooley College, our Firm's unique training program for junior associates in both the Business and Litigation departments. Cooley College has achieved widespread recognition as one of the most comprehensive and effective training programs of its kind in the country. Started in 1988, Cooley College uses a combination of lectures, hypotheticals, interactive and small group exercises, mock negotiations, trial workshops and deposition training sessions presented by our partners, associates and paralegal specialists. Cooley College is also a great opportunity for our newest attorneys to meet others in their class and start building friendships that will last throughout their careers. Summer associates are provided with exceptional training opportunities during our summer program by participating in a special "mini" version of Cooley College as well as practice group training sessions.
Commitment to pro bono work is an important part of our culture at Cooley. Cooley views pro bono work as an integral part of its practice and accords it the same credit as billable hours. Our lawyers serve in local and national leadership roles in a variety of legal and nonlegal contexts. Some examples of our pro bono projects include returning a historic landmark building to the Japanese community in San Francisco, arguing a public housing case before the U.S. Supreme Court and establishing a legal-aid guardianship program for low-income caregivers of children. As a further commitment to the importance of our pro bono practice, in 2003, we established the full-time position of Pro Bono Counsel.
Our culture is unique. We measure the value of our lawyers not by billable hours but by overall contribution to the Firm, defined broadly. This creates an atmosphere of trust and cooperation that makes Cooley one of the best places in the country to practice law. We have attracted a group of lawyers known not only for their legal skills but also for their integrity and cooperative spirit. Those lawyers are both Cooley's greatest asset and the best reason to join the Firm.
Company History
PALO ALTO
Established in 1980, our PALO ALTO offices have served a vital role in our emergence as one of the preeminent firms serving the legal needs of private and public companies, the venture capital community, and mature Fortune 1000 companies. Our deep roots in and historic ties to the Silicon Valley enable our attorneys to develop a unique understanding of the business and legal challenges that emerging companies deal with daily.
SAN DIEGO
Established in 1992, our SAN DIEGO practice has evolved into the preeminent law office serving technology and life sciences companies, venture funds and investment banks in the Southern California region. We represent clients at all phases of their business cycles and provide expert counsel for the most sophisticated and challenging matters for businesses ranging from start-ups to mature public and Fortune 500 companies.
SAN FRANCISCO:
The Firm has a long and successful history in SAN FRANCISCO. The Firm started here in 1920 and represents a variety of companies and industries on both corporate and litigation matters. Our office, located in the heart of the Financial District, is home to practice expertise in a number of areas.
COLORADO
The first Silicon Valley firm to establish a presence in the Rockies in 1993, our COLORADO location has developed into the region’s preeminent law office, serving emerging technology and high-growth companies, venture funds, and investment banks. We represent clients at all phases of their business cycles and provide expert counsel for the most sophisticated and challenging transactions faced by start-up, emerging, and established companies, funds and underwriters.
RESTON
Established in 1999, our RESTON office has become the preeminent full-service office in the Mid-Atlantic region serving entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and private equity funds, private and public companies in all major technology fields, financial service organizations and noted research institutions. Our practice include both business and litigation services and combine our Silicon Valley expertise with the local attorneys’ deep knowledge of issues facing technology companies.
WASHINGTON, DC
Our WASHINGTON, DC office, which opened in 2005, serves growth companies at all stages in their business cycles, particularly in connection with their dealings with, and opposite, the Federal Government. Our practice addresses cutting edge issues, transactions and complex litigation at the cross-roads of high technology, biotech, new media, Internet, E-Commerce, communications, venture capital, financial services, private equity, and the national and international capital markets, with the policy, competition, legislative and regulatory frameworks of the U.S. Government.
NEW YORK
Our NEW YORK office is built upon the legacy of Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman, a native NY firm founded in 1958. In 2006, Kronish combined with Cooley Godward uniting Kronish’s deep experience in high-stakes litigation and financial transactions with Cooley’s traditional strengths in technology, venture capital, life sciences, and corporate representation.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
Cooley Godward Kronish ranked #11 in the country in the IP Law360 survey of top IP Litigation firms for 2006.
2007 Am Law Midlevel Associates Survey ranked Cooley Godward Kronish:
4th - AmLaw 100/Global 100 Firms
1st - San Diego office
3rd - Washington, DC office
3rd - San Francisco, CA office (SF Bay Area firms)
5th - Palo Alto office (SF Bay Area firms)
Cooley - San Francisco ranks 3rd in the SF Bay Area
2007 Vault National Survey
#5 Best Places to Work
#3 in Technology
#4 in Training
Benefits
Medical, dental, vision; life and AD&D insurance; domestic partner coverage; flexible spending accounts; family care referral program; emergency and priority child care; paid maternity, paternity and adoptive leave; employee assistance program; short and long term disability; Firm subsidized health club membership; 401(k); 3-4 weeks vacation; membership in ABA, state and local bar associations.