03/22/2006
Ross W. Nadel, Former Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, Joins Cooley Godward LLP
San Francisco, Calif. – March 22, 2006 — Cooley Godward LLP announced today that Ross W. Nadel, former Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, will join the Firm as a partner. Mr. Nadel, who spent 24 years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will join the Firm’s business litigation practice and will be based in the San Francisco office.
Mr. Nadel is an accomplished trial attorney who has also served in a number of important leadership positions in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. As Chief of the Criminal Division and Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit, Mr. Nadel participated in nearly every complex white-collar case that was brought in the Northern District. During his career as a federal prosecutor, he prosecuted virtually every type of federal crime and tried more than 70 cases.
At the request of then-U.S. Attorney and now FBI Director Robert Mueller, Mr. Nadel founded the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) Unit, the first unit in any U.S. Attorney’s Office in the country dedicated exclusively to the investigation and prosecution of high tech crimes. During the next three years under Mr. Nadel’s leadership, the CHIP Unit prosecuted cases involving the theft of trade secrets, economic espionage, criminal copyright infringement, computer intrusion and many other types of cases that affect the high tech industry. As a testament to Mr. Nadel’s efforts, there are now CHIP Units in more than a dozen U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country.
Steve Neal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cooley Godward LLP, commented, “Ross is a superb trial attorney and a great leader. During his many years as a federal prosecutor, in addition to extensive trial experience, Ross has developed a unique understanding and perspective of the challenges facing technology companies. That experience will be invaluable to our clients.”
At Cooley, Mr. Nadel will practice in the areas of regulatory and white collar defense, corporate investigations and the protection of intellectual property.
“Ross is the most highly regarded prosecutor to leave the U.S. Attorney’s Office and enter private practice in a number of years. We feel very fortunate that he will be joining us,” stated John C. Dwyer, head of the Firm’s business litigation practice group. “He is a significant addition to our national litigation practice.”
Mr. Nadel received his law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law. Following law school, he clerked for U.S. District Judge Samuel Conti and U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Steele Langford.
About Cooley Godward
Cooley Godward is an established provider of strategic litigation and business transaction services and a recognized leader in the representation of high-growth private and public companies, financial institutions, venture capital firms and nonprofit organizations. Our singular focus on providing the highest quality legal services has enabled our clients to achieve their strategic business objectives and garnered for Cooley recognition as one of the country's leading law firms.
Cooley was recently named to The American Lawyer magazine’s 2005 “A List,” the publication’s annual ranking of “the best of the best” among the nation's top law firms. For additional information please visit www.cooley.com.
Media Contact:
Emily Foley
Cooley Godward LLP
(650) 843-5383
efoley@cooley.com