Cooley LLP - True Picture

Firm profile

Cooley's lawyers solve legal issues for entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions and established companies. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation, often where innovation meets the law.

In January 2015, Cooley established its first European office in London. Cooley's UK practice has strengths across many of the firm’s core practice areas, among them corporate/M&A, venture capital, capital markets, technology and life sciences transactions, IP, complex high-stakes litigation, product compliance & liability, tax, competition, employment, compensation & benefits, fraud, data protection and privacy. It now has 100+ lawyers.

Cooley has 1,300+ lawyers globally, across 18 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe.

Main areas of work

Cooley’s London office has been named London Office of the Year at the British Legal Awards twice since opening in 2015. It has built out robust practices, including corporate/M&A, venture capital, capital markets, technology and life sciences transactions, IP, complex high-stakes litigation, product compliance & liability, tax, competition, employment, compensation & benefits, fraud, data protection and privacy. Cooley also serves its communities by representing hundreds of pro bono clients annually.

Trainee opportunities

Cooley’s training experience will revolve around small groups of trainees and really hands-on involvement. We truly believe in learning by doing. Trainees spend four six-month periods in some of the firm’s corporate/transactional and litigation areas. Trainees give preferences for seats and there may also be opportunities for client secondments from time to time. The focus is on your development as a truly commercial business lawyer. Supplementing your hands-on learning will be a programme designed to increase your knowledge and skill for the work Cooley does. Practice group programmes and firm-wide opportunities will enhance this. Working alongside and learning from some of the best lawyers in their fields will give you a fantastic start to your professional life. A multilevel support network of partners, mentors and a buddy system ensures you have a targeted level of guidance.

Vacation scheme

The Summer Programme is the only route into being considered for a training place. Apply online by 7th January 2024. Two-week programmes for up to 12 students.

Other benefits

Life assurance, pension (firm contribution), STL, private medical insurance, 25 days annual leave, employee assistance and mental health and wellbeing support services, critical illness cover, fertility treatment, wellness program, virtual GP services, cycle to work scheme, gym membership/fitness reimbursement, on-site café, mortgage surgeries, back-up child/adult care, discount, cashback and concierge services, other sports and social activities.

Open days and first-year opportunities

Cooley are running three ’Meet Cooley’ insight events in Autumn 2023, so there are plenty of opportunities to get to know the firm. The dates are 15 and 29 November (this event is virtual) and 12 December 2023. We have a further opportunity for first years, in May 2024. Application deadlines are specific to each event and can be found on the website. www.cooley.com/uktrainee

University law careers fairs 2023

National events including Aspiring Solicitors Virtual Diversity Law Fairs, Vantage, LawCareers Live (London event), Legal Cheek Commercial Awareness Academy. In addition to Birmingham, Bristol, King’s College (London), Lancaster, Nottingham, Oxford, Southampton, Sussex, UCL and Warwick.

Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Cooley
Diversity is embedded in Cooley’s culture. We are dedicated to maintaining a truly diverse workplace that values and celebrates differences. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan https://www.cooley.com/about/diversity/dei-action-plan sets forth specific objectives, metrics and actions to articulate and deliver on our commitments. That commitment also includes active and creative partnerships with clients and in local and national diversity organisations, diversity pipeline projects, high school undergraduate and law school diversity programs like our UK Diversity Fellowship programme and community outreach. True workplace diversity means offering all employees the tools, training and mentoring they need to succeed, and it means leading by example in our profession.

Our leadership and partnership are both transparent and accountable to our diversity, equity and inclusion progress. We apply metrics by developing diversity data dashboards that track trends and identify gaps across several key areas of hiring, retention and promotion firmwide. Developed by our Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and circulated among all partners on a quarterly basis, our analytics highlight statistics specific to each office and practice group and visualise trends around dimensions of hiring, promotion, retention, flexible work schedule trends, diverse talent pipeline and other insights. We commit to publicly sharing and maintaining accountability for Cooley’s progress and to work toward systemic change within the firm, the broader industry and our communities.

Cooley is deeply committed to advancing mental well-being in our industry, as well as continuing to raise awareness and implement new programmes to meet the needs of our people. With wide-ranging benefits that include comprehensive mental health programmes (therapy and coaching provision), family and childcare support, as well as physical health, Cooley takes a “whole person” approach to well-being. As participants in the Mindful Business Charter, we are working with other industry leaders to address some of the avoidable stresses in our working practices to promote healthier and more effective ways of working. Cooley’s partner-led mental health and wellness committee is dedicated to destigmatising all issues related to mental health, including anxiety, depression, stress, and substance use. They are vocal champions for self-care and well-being, and through their leadership, we have cultivated a culture of wellness at every level of the firm.