By Casey Sullivan
Feb 19 (Reuters) - Silicon Valley law firm Cooley has hired
the co-chair of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton's corporate
practice group as a partner, the firm's leaders said on
Tuesday.
Thomas Hopkins, who worked at Sheppard Mullin for more than
ten years, specializes in mergers and acquisitions, public
offerings and corporate transactions. He will join Cooley's Los
Angeles office along with Ian Smith, another corporate partner
from Sheppard Mullin.
Hopkins' clients have included online legal document
service LegalZoom.com, plastic surgery manufacturer Sientra Inc.
and restaurant reservation service Open Table, according to
Martindale-Hubbell.
Cooley has 700 lawyers and eleven offices, including one in
China. Its practice areas include litigation, technology,
intellectual property, life sciences and venture capital.
Cooley established a Los Angeles office in July 2012 when it
recruited David Hernand, the former co-chair of Gibson Dunn &
Crutcher's entertainment, media and technology practice, along
with three partners from other firms.
Since then, Cooley has been expanding its presence in Los
Angeles, and now has 17 lawyers in the office. Fred Muto, chair
of the firm's business practice, said in a statement that the
most recent hires gives the firm's recruiting efforts
"momentum."
A Sheppard Mullin spokesman did not respond to a request for
comment.
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