Written by Amy Ralls | Jan 3, 2020 5:00:00 AM
Palo Alto – January 2, 2020 – With the retirement of Steve Neal, chairman, from Cooley’s partnership, CEO Joe Conroy will now add the role of chairman to his existing leadership responsibilities. This change comes as Cooley celebrates 100 years of success and innovation. Neal, who served as Cooley’s chairman for more than a decade and previously as chairman and CEO, retired from the partnership December 31 but will continue to practice law full time at the firm. Conroy has been chief executive officer of Cooley since 2008. In that time, the firm has grown from 300 to 1,000+ lawyers, building balanced practices on both coasts of the US and dynamically expanding into Europe and Asia. Conroy is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion in the legal industry, as well as fostering and maintaining Cooley’s unique and highly regarded culture, as exemplified by the firm’s recognition on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list for six consecutive years. Neal joined Cooley as a partner in 1995. He served as the firm’s chairman and CEO from 2001 to 2007 and as its chairman from 2008 to 2019, in addition to longtime roles on Cooley’s executive, management and compensation committees. In recognition of his leadership, Cooley’s management committee approved a resolution honoring Neal with the title of chairman emeritus.
About Cooley LLP Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation, where innovation meets the law. Cooley has 1,000+ lawyers across 15 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe.