Cooley Files Application to Open Office in China

PALO ALTO, CA--(Marketwire - May 12, 2011) - Cooley LLP announced today that it has filed an application with the Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China requesting approval to open a representative office in Shanghai. If the application is approved, the firm will leverage its nationally recognized practices in venture capital, life sciences, information technology, clean energy and technologies, and commercial, intellectual property and securities litigation to serve clients through the new office.

"With many of our clients pursuing aggressive growth plans in China, an increase in venture fund formation and investing activity focused on the country, and with the strong growth prospects for China and Chinese businesses, we feel that our presence in China is a natural first step in our international expansion," said Joe Conroy, Cooley's chief executive officer.

As Cooley's client base has expanded, the firm has been increasingly called upon to serve clients that invest in and conduct business in China and elsewhere in Asia. Chinese companies are pursuing public offerings, acquisitions, investments and other transactions in the United States, and with increased business activity are engaged in more complex litigation and dispute scenarios that require expert assistance to resolve.

In 1989, Cooley advised on the formation of the first institutional venture capital fund investing in China, and to date the firm has formed 43 Chinese venture capital and private equity funds for nearly 20 fund managers. Additionally, Cooley represents various U.S. fund managers with respect to their investing activity in China, including fund managers with sponsored groups and representative offices in China.

"We believe that the strength and depth of our core practice areas will serve us well in China and in representing Chinese enterprises doing business in the United States," said Cooley Chairman Stephen C. Neal. "In particular, with the Chinese government's current focus on innovation, clean energy, health care, drug discovery and development and intellectual property development and acquisition, we believe that our deep experience in promoting, advising and representing high growth companies in these sectors and matters will facilitate our ultimate success in China."

About Cooley LLP

Cooley's 650 attorneys have an entrepreneurial spirit and deep, substantive experience, and are committed to solving clients' most challenging legal matters. From small companies with big ideas to international enterprises with diverse legal needs, Cooley has the breadth of legal resources to enable companies of all sizes to seize opportunities in today's global marketplace. The firm represents clients across a broad array of dynamic industry sectors, including technology, life sciences, venture capital, clean energy, real estate and retail.

The firm has full-service offices in major business and technology centers across the United States: Palo Alto, CA, New York, NY, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Reston, VA, Broomfield, CO, Washington, DC, Boston, MA and Seattle, WA.