Cooley Adds Elite Litigation and Privacy/Security Capabilities

Three leading partners expand firm’s global commercial litigation, white collar and cyber/data/privacy coverage in Chicago

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cooley has expanded its Chicago presence, along with its national roster of talented litigators, with the addition of three partners in the firm’s growing business litigation, white collar defense & investigations, and cyber/data/privacy practices. Matthew Kutcher, Bobby Earles and Lei Shen join the prestigious 10-partner team that launched the firm’s Chicago office in May. The trio brings wide-ranging capabilities as a former high-level prosecutor, a cyber/privacy/security authority and a seasoned litigator. The addition of their extensive experience, including serving at the highest levels of government and industry, reflects the firm’s ongoing dedication to the development of an elite, diverse, next-generation litigation partnership, and builds on the firm’s mission to offer dynamic and disruptive solutions from a cross-functional team of lawyers to innovative clients driving the new economy.

“This group of litigation and privacy/security partners heralds a new era that brings together unique advocacy and advisory expertise in Chicago, while continuing our extraordinary growth and expanding our ability to serve clients with the most complex challenges to surmount worldwide,” said Michael Attanasio, chair of Cooley’s global litigation department. “Matt, Bobby and Lei are stars of today and leaders of tomorrow, drawn to Cooley as a diverse and elite firm that is the go-to choice for the most innovative companies in the world.”

Kutcher joins the firm’s litigation practice from the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, where he served as an assistant US attorney since 2015 and was deputy chief in the General Crimes Section. In addition to his significant prosecutorial experience as an AUSA, Kutcher previously chaired Latham & Watkins’ litigation group in Chicago. At Cooley, he focuses on broad white collar defense and investigations, while also handling securities and general commercial litigation.

“Cooley’s distinctive platform and entrepreneurial spirit set the firm apart,” said Kutcher. “The litigation group offers the opportunity to work with a national team of all-stars to support the most dynamic and disruptive companies and leaders. I am eager to join this talented and collaborative team.”

Earles arrives from Kirkland & Ellis, where he was a partner. He joins Cooley’s business litigation practice with broad commercial litigation experience on matters ranging from white collar to bankruptcy litigation. Entrenched in the Chicago legal community, his practice particularly focuses on private equity, venture capital and M&A‐related disputes.

“Cooley is an amazing law firm, and I’m thrilled to join its burgeoning global litigation practice,” Earles said. “I am looking forward to working closely with a renowned and diverse team of lawyers across multiple industries and geographies.”

Shen arrives from Mayer Brown, where she was a partner. As a member of Cooley’s cyber/data/privacy practice that serves clients in litigation matters and corporate transactions, she counsels clients on a range of global data privacy and security issues. She balances her practice between transactional advocacy and privacy compliance and counseling related to regulatory regimes such as the General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act.

“I chose Cooley because clients view the firm as the go-to in the new economy,” Shen said. “Cooley has built a truly elite global c/d/p practice that spans all aspects of cybersecurity, data use, privacy, and related high-profile litigation and regulatory engagements. I am excited to be a part of this powerful global group and contribute to further successes.”

In and out of the courtroom, Cooley’s litigation team is uniquely positioned to handle sensitive and high-stakes matters, with a proven track record of aggressively advocating for its industry-leading clients at trial. The firm is well known for counseling clients in white collar matters and investigations, and remains the go-to firm for the world’s most dynamic companies as they navigate the ever-increasing complexities of the legal and regulatory landscape. The firm’s cyber/data/privacy practice is a cross-functional, integrated team of lawyers in the US, Europe and Asia spanning the spectrum of advisory, transactional, regulatory and litigation matters involving privacy, cybersecurity and data governance. Cooley’s growing litigation team, which continues to add elite talent across key markets, has been recognized by The American Lawyer and other leading industry publications as a preeminent global litigation department.

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Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation, where innovation meets the law.

Cooley has 1,200 lawyers across 17 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe.