Cooley LLP

Cooley's claim to fame is its number-one ranking in tech IPOs, but the firm's strengths run much deeper. The venture capital and emerging companies practice is legendary, advising startups from garage-stage through billion-dollar exits. The life sciences group is equally elite, handling FDA regulatory work and biotech transactions that shape modern medicine. Cooley's litigation team has grown into a powerhouse, particularly in IP and securities litigation tied to the tech sector. The firm generates $3.8M in profits per partner with a 1,950-hour billable requirement that is standard for elite firms.

Cooley's culture reflects its tech-industry client base: entrepreneurial, informal, and meritocratic. Associates describe the environment as collaborative rather than cutthroat, with a free-market system that lets you build your own practice portfolio. Training programs are strong, with particular emphasis on getting junior associates substantive responsibility early. The summer program hosts roughly 100 associates with a 98% offer rate, and summers report being treated as colleagues rather than guests. The Palo Alto headquarters sets the tone, but offices in New York, DC, and elsewhere maintain the same innovative spirit.

Cooley's OCI process features a screening interview with behavioral questions -- expect prompts like telling interviewers about a time you solved a problem or navigated failure. The callback involves meetings with partners and associates who will have prepared behavioral questions, but the tone stays conversational. The key to standing out is demonstrating genuine passion for the tech ecosystem and understanding which of Cooley's offices and practices align with your interests. Show you understand the difference between representing a Series A startup and a pre-IPO unicorn, and you will be speaking their language.