Cooley
Global IP and litigation law firm
Associate Director of External Communications - Business
More locations: Boston, MA, USA | Seattle, WA, USA | Santa Monica, CA, USA | Washington, DC, USA | San Francisco, CA, USA | Los Angeles, CA, USA | Chicago, IL, USA | Colorado, USA | Reston, VA, USA | New York, NY, USA | San Diego, CA, USA
Ability to travel as required.
About the job
- After orientation at Cooley LLP, proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage, and other firm applications is required.
- Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours as required.
- Ability to travel as required.
- At least 8 years of direct communications or public relations experience with business-to-business clients, including experience at a management level, is required.
- A bachelor's degree, preferably in English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Business, or a related field, is required.
- Experience providing strategic leadership, influencing key decisions, and guiding team direction is required.
- Experience leading people and teams, including hiring, employee development, work assignment, performance management, coaching, and corrective counseling, is required.
- Strong working knowledge of and contacts within national print, broadcast, and online media is required.
- Strong understanding of financial markets, business concepts, and related subject matter is required.
- Experience with crisis and issues management communications is required.
- Understanding of digital marketing, social media strategies, and content creation best practices is required.
- Strong executive presence and the ability to build credibility and trust with partners on communications strategy and execution are required.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
- Exceptional writing skills and strong attention to detail are required.
- Ability to lead others in developing and executing initiatives and large-scale projects is required.
- Ability to motivate others and build effective, cooperative work teams is required.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to negotiate challenging situations and understand internal politics, are required.
- Ability to think quickly and work effectively in a fast-paced environment is required.
- Ability to consistently meet deadlines, including self-set and multitasked deadlines, is required.
- Ability to develop professional relationships internally with department members, lawyers, and firm business professionals and externally with industry and regional associations is required.
- Ability to simplify complex legal and business information into clear, accessible communication is required.
- Lead and manage a team of in-house and agency communications professionals responsible for building and maintaining relationships with influential media.
- Work with the Department Chair and business practice leadership to develop communications strategies that support strategic priorities, strengthen the firm's position in key markets, and highlight the capabilities of the firm, its practices, and its lawyers.
- Oversee the strategic direction of the department's awards and recognitions program, including prioritization, processes, and development of key submissions.
- Write and edit press releases, media pitches, talking points, statements, and other firm communications.
- Develop and maintain reporting, policies, protocols, and resources that support a coordinated and effective external communications function.
- Identify and shape compelling stories around the department, its clients, and its lawyers, particularly across industries and issues driving the innovation economy.
- Lead proactive external communications campaigns positioning business lawyers as authoritative voices through earned media, social media, thought leadership, and content promotion.
- Serve as a spokesperson and primary point of contact for media inquiries.
- Advise firm leaders and lawyers on media strategy, reputation management, and sensitive or high-profile matters.
- Provide crisis communications counsel, media training, and interview preparation.
- Develop messaging, media strategies, anticipated questions and responses, and other communications materials.
- Mentor direct reports.
- Provide day-to-day supervision of direct reports and monitor compliance with assigned work hours and firm and department policies.
- Support business professional development and continued educational opportunities.
- Participate with the immediate supervisor and Human Resources in hiring, performance appraisals, counseling, termination, and other employee lifecycle events.
- Perform other duties as assigned or required.
- Some management experience at the senior level is preferred.
- Experience working in a law firm, professional services, or public relations agency environment is preferred.
- At least 10 years of applicable experience is strongly preferred.
About the company
Cooley is a large international law firm that helps clients with major deals, complex intellectual property work, regulatory issues, and high-stakes lawsuits. Its lawyers across 19 offices in the U.S., Asia, and Europe collaborate to advise on transactions, protect and manage IP assets, navigate regulations, and represent clients in court or arbitration. The firm differentiates itself by its sizeable global team and wide range of practice areas, allowing it to handle complex matters that cross markets and jurisdictions. Cooley’s goal is to help clients complete transformative deals, secure strong IP positions, meet regulatory requirements, and win important litigation outcomes.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Boston, Massachusetts
Founded
1920
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- September 17, 2026 OpenAI partnership should accelerate IPO workflows and client throughput.
- July 15, 2026 LA28 appointment creates a visible three-year institutional services relationship.
- 2026 lateral hiring added 37 partners, strengthening litigation, fund formation, and capital markets benches.
What critics are saying
- July 27, 2026 New Jersey judgment hit Cooley with $25.4 million malpractice damages.
- September 2026 settlements in Carbon IQ and Gould matters reinforce conflict and disclosure scrutiny.
- Sidley and others continue poaching Cooley partners, including Steven Przesmicki in March 2026.
What makes Cooley unique
- September 17, 2026 GO Public uses OpenAI to draft bespoke S-1s in minutes.
- Cooley remains a top US IPO counsel, backing capital markets with proprietary AI.
- September 8, 2026 Chicago hire Michael Black deepens private equity fund formation coverage.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
Fertility Treatment Support
Hybrid Work Options
Company 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.
Freshfields hires Weil Gotshal's white collar practice co-chair. Sept. 10, 2026, 4:00 AM PDT Weil, Gotshal & Manges white collar practice co-chair Daniel Stein is joining Freshfields' New York office, where he will co-lead the firm's global investigations practice. Stein served for a decade as an assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York, ending his tenure in 2016 as chief of the criminal division. He joined Weil in 2022 after being a partner at Mayer Brown. His hire announced Thursday reflects increased client demand on civil and criminal matters across federal and state levels, Freshfields said in a statement. "He is exactly the kind of practitioner we have been looking to add," said Beth George, head of the firm's US litigation, arbitration and global investigations practice. The move adds to a string of litigation partner hires Freshfields has made and extends a string of leadership departures from Weil. The Weil departures include Chris Machera, co-head of private equity, who joined Paul Weiss, and Stephanie Srulowitz, co-head of Weil's U.S. private funds practice, who joined Simpson Thacher. Bloomberg Law has reported that Simpson Thacher is poised to hire a group of Weil partners. Weil, however, made a notable addition this week when it re-hired Damian Ridealgh, who'd left the firm in 2023 and served as Freshfields' global co-head of private credit and capital solutions. Freshfields has been busy this year bolstering its white collar, investigations, and strategic risk management groups in the US. The firm last week hired former federal prosecutor Danny Grooms in Washington from Cooley. Freshfields in May added a former Skadden partner, Alessio Evangelista, to the group. And it brought on former State Department advisor Nema Milaninia in January. This week it also hired a former Cravath M&A partner, Bethany Pfalzgraf, in New York. "I have spent my career at the intersection of government enforcement and private practice," Stein said. "I see a tremendous opportunity at Freshfields to bring those experiences together." Bloomberg Law provides trusted coverage of current events enhanced with legal analysis.
Cooley bolsters private equity bench with fund formation hire in Chicago. Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Michael Black has joined Cooley's Chicago office as a partner in the firm's fund formation practice, further strengthening Cooley's private equity fund capabilities to meet the evolving needs of its growing client base. Joining Cooley from Kirkland & Ellis, Black deepens Cooley's capabilities serving emerging and established sponsors in the middle markets. "Michael is an outstanding addition to our fund formation team and to Cooley's Chicago office," said John Clendenin, partner and chair of Cooley's global fund formation practice. "He combines a sophisticated technical skill set with a practical, collaborative approach and a deep understanding of the needs of emerging and established private equity managers. Michael is highly regarded in the market and exceptionally effective with clients." Black brings a versatile practice spanning the full life cycle of private investment funds. He counsels established and emerging managers on the formation, structuring and operation of private investment funds - including buyout, growth equity, search, debt, real estate and single-asset funds - and special purpose vehicles. Black has significant experience leading fund closings representing billions of dollars in aggregate committed capital, and advising on the formation of private investment funds, including funds established by first-time sponsors. In 2026, Cooley has continued to strategically invest across its fund formation platform, with Black following the additions of partners Derek Pease, Corey Zarse and Jon Brose. "A fundraise sets the foundation for a partnership that can shape how a firm operates for the next decade. Middle-market managers need counsel who understand the significance of those decisions and can provide advice tailored to their needs," said Black. "Cooley combines that judgment with the ability to execute at the highest level." The firm's fund formation practice is among the largest and most active in the country, providing primary counsel to more than 1,000 investment fund clients. The team advises managers across the full spectrum of strategies and fund structures, including private equity, venture capital, growth equity and other private investment funds, supporting sponsors from formation and fundraising through ongoing operations, liquidity solutions and strategic transactions. Analysis | Jobs | News
Commercial litigator heads to King & Spalding. King & Spalding has added disputes firepower in New York with the appointment of an 'outstanding' lawyer from Cooley. Trial lawyer Philip Bowman has bid farewell to Cooley after an eight-year tenure to join Cooley's New York-based business litigation practice as partner. The hire was confirmed today (3 September). With a focus on high-stakes commercial litigation, Bowman frequently represents clients in proceedings relating to life sciences collaboration and licensing, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), antitrust, trade secret and restrictive covenant issues, as well as litigation involving clients in the private equity, investment management, venture capital and technology sectors. Bowman acts before both state and federal courts across the US, as well as in domestic and international arbitrations. "Phil is an outstanding trial lawyer with a sophisticated commercial litigation practice that aligns closely with many of the firm's strategic priorities and enhances our ability to handle complex disputes across a range of industries," said Damien Marshall, co-leader of King & Spalding's Business Litigation practice group. "Phil's arrival enhances our bench in New York, expands opportunities for collaboration across practices, and demonstrates King & Spalding's continued investment in our premier litigation platform." Bowman began his legal career with a four-year stint at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, before departing for Boies Schiller Flexner in 2006. He went on to spend 12 years at Boies Schiller before joining Cooley in 2018. It has been a busy year for King & Spalding on the lateral hire front, with 64 partners welcomed to the firm over the past nine months, including 23 additions to the business litigation practice group. Notable appointments include those of Sydney-based regulatory and disputes lawyer Mandi Jacobson, Dallas-based litigation partners LeElle Slifer, John Sullivan and Katrina Eash, a US litigation team led by global trial head Tom Melsheimer, and Atlanta-based product liability and mass torts partner Rebeca Ojeda. This week alone has seen two other lateral hires welcomed to the firm with the arrival of international arbitration partner Thomas Voisin in Paris and private equity M&A partner Nicola Yeomans in Singapore.
Superluminal Medicines has closed an oversubscribed $60 million Series B financing led by BVF Partners, with participation from Deep Track Capital and Perceptive Advisors alongside existing investors including RA Capital Management, Insight Partners, and NVIDIA. The Boston-based biotechnology company will use the proceeds to advance its lead programme — a selective MC4R agonist for rare genetic forms of obesity and hypothalamic obesity — into a Phase 1 clinical trial by the end of 2026. The funding will also support expansion of its GPCR-focused discovery platform. Superluminal integrates AI, machine learning, and structural biology to develop small-molecule therapies targeting G protein-coupled receptors for endocrine and cardiometabolic diseases. The company maintains a strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly for advancing GPCR-targeted therapeutics.