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Synergy, Build617 open free Founders Space in downtown Boston. September 28, 2026 BOSTON - Real estate investment and management firm Synergy and Boston startup community Build617 have officially opened a new founders workspace in downtown Boston, creating a free place for early-stage companies and AI-focused startups to work, connect and build. The Build617 Founders Space was unveiled Thursday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Boston officials, startup founders, members of the local technology community and the Synergy team. The space is the centerpiece of a partnership between Synergy and Build617 that provides no-cost workspace to AI-native startups in the city. The initiative comes as Boston continues to attract activity from artificial intelligence companies, investors and entrepreneurs. Mayor Michelle Wu said the new space reflects Boston's ability to connect entrepreneurs with the city's universities, talent and broader innovation community. "Boston is where bold ideas become real-world solutions," Wu said. "We look forward to the growth and impact within this space and across our ecosystem of world-class research institutions, exceptional talent, and connected communities." A bet on keeping founders in Boston. For Synergy, the partnership represents an effort to support Boston's startup economy through its real estate portfolio. David Greaney, Synergy's founder and CEO, said the city has long produced entrepreneurs through its universities but faces the challenge of retaining that talent. "Boston's universities have always produced world-class founders. The challenge has never been talent, it's been keeping that talent here," Greaney said. Greaney said Synergy sees real estate as one way to support the entrepreneurs building companies in Boston. The Founders Space is already home to more than 20 companies working in areas including artificial intelligence, health care, financial technology and marketing. Build617 also works with partners including Stifel Venture Banking, CLA and Cooley. Nathan Spielberg, founder of Build617 and co-founder of Tamarin AI, said the partnership gives entrepreneurs a physical place to work alongside other founders. "Boston already has the founders, the talent, and the ambition to build the next generation of world-changing companies," Spielberg said. "What we need are more people willing to actually show up and build alongside them." Downtown Boston's evolving business landscape. The opening comes as downtown Boston's business environment continues to evolve, with technology and AI companies joining the area's traditional concentration of financial, professional services and other businesses. Build617 and Synergy said the Founders Space reflects their view that startups, venture capital firms and AI companies are increasingly concentrating in and around downtown rather than moving to suburban locations or other markets. The partnership also expands Synergy's involvement in Boston's business ecosystem beyond its traditional real estate activities. The Boston-based company owns and operates more than 30 commercial properties across Greater Boston totaling nearly 7 million square feet, according to the company. More than 500 companies, retailers and organizations occupy space in its portfolio. Synergy's activities include real estate investment, development, property management, leasing, construction, lending and hospitality. For Build617, the new headquarters is intended to provide more than office space by creating a community for founders developing companies in the city. The organization describes the space as a "co-building" environment for startups shipping products in Boston, with the goal of connecting entrepreneurs with resources, partners and one another. The companies said the partnership represents a long-term commitment to Boston's startup ecosystem, with the Founders Space serving as a physical base for entrepreneurs building the city's next generation of companies.

Cooley bolsters congressional investigations practice with veteran republican capitol Hill counsel. Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Cooley today announced that Jessica Donlon joined the firm as a partner in its congressional investigations practice and global litigation department in Washington, DC. Donlon's arrival further strengthens Cooley's Chambers-ranked bipartisan congressional investigations practice, deepening its firsthand congressional experience and ability to counsel clients through high-stakes oversight matters. She brings more than 15 years at the highest levels of congressional oversight and investigations, including senior leadership roles with the House committees on Energy and Commerce and Oversight and Government Reform, as well as the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). "Since Susanne arrived in 2024, she has catapulted Cooley's congressional investigations practice to the top of the market," said Ian Shapiro, partner and chair of the firm's global litigation department. "Now, as she reunites across the aisle with Donlon, few, if any, firms will have as much experience at the center of congressional oversight over the last 15 years. We are excited to deploy Donlon, Grooms and the rest of their team in the service of Cooley's innovative clients." Donlon joins the firm from the US House of Representatives, where she served as general counsel to the House Energy and Commerce Committee under Chairman Brett Guthrie, and previously served as general counsel and deputy staff director to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee under Chairman James Comer. She also served as deputy general counsel for oversight at the White House OMB, where she managed the administration's response to congressional requests, briefings and hearings. "Navigating congressional scrutiny requires sound judgment, credibility and a deep understanding of the people and institutions that drive decisions in Washington," said Susanne Sachsman Grooms, partner and chair of Cooley's congressional investigations practice. "Having worked alongside Jessica for many years, I know that her impeccable reputation and long-standing relationships across the Hill and throughout DC will be invaluable as we help clients anticipate and navigate the new oversight dynamics that could emerge following the midterm elections. We are very excited to have our clients benefit from Jessica's extensive experience on the Hill and at OMB and the breadth of perspective that she brings to our team." "Cooley is the natural choice for my move into private practice," said Donlon. "The firm advises many of the most innovative companies and industries increasingly at the center of congressional attention, and I'm excited to bring my experience to those clients while working alongside Grooms and other exceptional colleagues in the congressional investigations practice and across the global litigation department." Cooley's congressional investigations practice counsels companies and individuals through their most sensitive and high-profile matters involving significant business and reputational risk. Its bipartisan team brings deep experience with the principal investigative committees in both chambers of Congress and under leadership from both parties. The team has successfully handled numerous investigations across major industries for public companies, privately held businesses, individuals and other entities facing congressional oversight. Donlon will join a team that includes numerous practitioners with deep experience on the Hill, including Heather Sawyer, Janet Kim, Sean Quinn and Vince Sampson. Cooley's global litigation department includes more than 500 lawyers in the US and Europe representing technology, life sciences and other innovative companies. Since 2025, Cooley has added numerous elite, next-generation lawyers to its litigation department throughout the US, including Elizabeth Prelogar, Raymond Tolentino, Ephraim McDowell, Brian Nelson, Janet Kim and Meredith Halama in DC; Simona Agnolucci, Ben Hur, Jonathan Patchen, Eduardo Santacana, Joshua Anderson and Tiffany Lin in San Francisco; Michael Rome and Brian Klein in Los Angeles; Lyndsey Kruzer, Andrea Reid, Andrew Wilkins and John Rearick in Boston; and James Kim, Tejal Shah, Sean Quinn and Michael La Marca in New York. Analysis | Jobs | News

Law firm Cooley has partnered with OpenAI to launch GO Public, a tool designed to draft S-1 filings — documents companies must submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission before going public. The announcement was made on Thursday. Cooley lawyers can use prompts to operate GO Public, which has access to the firm's resources. The tool aims to streamline the preparation of regulatory filings required for initial public offerings.