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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.
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1,001-5,000
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N/A
Headquarters
Boston, Massachusetts
Founded
1920
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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.
Law firm Cooley leverages ChatGPT to streamline IPO processes. Cooley, a prominent law firm, has developed "GO Public with ChatGPT Work," an internal application utilizing ChatGPT to enhance efficiency and insight in the complex initial public offering (IPO) process. Published September 17, 2026 The legal sector, traditionally known for its meticulous and labor-intensive processes, is increasingly exploring the integration of artificial intelligence to augment human expertise. A notable example comes from Cooley, a leading law firm, which has embarked on an innovative endeavor to transform the demanding landscape of initial public offerings (IPOs). By developing an internal application named "GO Public with ChatGPT Work," Cooley aims to harness the power of large language models to streamline tasks, improve accuracy, and allow its legal professionals to focus on higher-value strategic judgments. This initiative represents a significant step towards a more AI-assisted future for legal services, showcasing the practical application of advanced AI in a highly regulated and critical domain. It highlights the potential for AI to not merely automate but to intelligently assist in complex decision-making processes. Addressing IPO Complexities with AI. Initial public offerings are intricate and time-sensitive undertakings, involving extensive documentation review, regulatory compliance, and a deep understanding of market dynamics. Lawyers often spend countless hours sifting through prospectus drafts, identifying potential issues, and ensuring every detail aligns with stringent legal standards. This manual effort, while critical, can be prone to human error and consume valuable time that could be dedicated to strategic counsel. Cooley recognized these challenges and identified an opportunity for AI to act as an intelligent assistant. The firm's GO Public application is specifically designed to tackle these pain points. It aims to accelerate the identification of key issues within IPO documents, cross-reference information, and provide contextual insights, thereby significantly reducing the time spent on repetitive analytical tasks. This allows lawyers to pinpoint potential problems much earlier in the process, enabling proactive adjustments and minimizing risks associated with the IPO. How GO Public with ChatGPT Work functions. At its core, GO Public with ChatGPT Work integrates the advanced capabilities of OpenAI's ChatGPT into Cooley's existing workflows. The application functions by allowing legal professionals to input prospectus drafts and other relevant documents. ChatGPT then analyzes these documents, identifying inconsistencies, potential disclosure gaps, and areas requiring further legal scrutiny. The system is designed to act as a sophisticated search and analysis engine, capable of understanding legal nuances and flagging elements that might otherwise be overlooked. Instead of completely automating legal advice, the tool acts as a powerful augmentation. It provides lawyers with synthesized information and highlighted areas of concern, empowering them to make more informed decisions rapidly. This collaborative model between human expertise and AI efficiency ensures that while the process is accelerated, the critical human judgment and ethical considerations inherent to legal practice remain paramount. Impact on legal professionals and clients. The introduction of GO Public with ChatGPT Work has profound implications for both Cooley's legal team and its clients. For lawyers, the shift means less time dedicated to the laborious, often tedious, task of document review and more capacity for strategic thinking, client interaction, and complex problem-solving. This not only enhances job satisfaction by re-focusing their expertise but also increases the overall efficiency and throughput of the legal team. It allows them to deliver value where their unique legal acumen is most impactful. Clients, particularly companies undergoing an IPO, stand to benefit from a faster, more accurate, and potentially more cost-effective legal process. Reduced preparation times mean quicker market entry and less legal spend on routine tasks. The enhanced ability to surface and address issues early minimizes the risk of costly delays or regulatory hurdles down the line, ultimately leading to a smoother and more successful public offering. The firm's ability to proactively identify and mitigate risks translates directly into better outcomes for its clients. Broader implications for the legal industry. Cooley's adoption of ChatGPT in its IPO workflow sets a precedent for the broader legal industry. It demonstrates a tangible pathway for other firms to integrate generative AI tools into their specialized practices. This move signifies a broader trend where AI is moving beyond basic legal research to assist in more complex analytical and transactional work. It encourages a re-evaluation of traditional legal processes and a consideration of how AI can be leveraged to not only improve efficiency but also enhance the quality of legal services provided. As AI models become more sophisticated, their application in areas requiring high precision and comprehensive analysis, such as contract review, due diligence, and regulatory compliance, will only expand. Firms that embrace these technologies early are likely to gain a competitive advantage, positioning themselves as innovators in a rapidly evolving professional landscape. The integration of AI also necessitates new skill sets for legal professionals, focusing on prompt engineering, AI tool management, and critical evaluation of AI-generated insights. Why it matters. Cooley's development of GO Public with ChatGPT Work is a significant illustration of how specialized professional services can successfully integrate advanced AI. It demonstrates AI's capacity to move beyond general-purpose applications into highly specific, complex workflows like IPOs, significantly enhancing efficiency and decision-making for legal professionals. This initiative underscores a transformative shift in how legal firms can leverage technology, providing a tangible model for innovation across the entire industry.
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.