Cooley Enhances Compensation & Benefits Practice

San Francisco – September 25, 2018 – Cooley is growing its compensation & benefits practice with the arrival of partner Blake Martell, who will be based in San Francisco and Palo Alto. He was previously a partner at Fenwick & West.

“Blake is well-regarded by so many of us here who have worked with him on prior deals,” said Amy Wood, partner and chair of Cooley’s compensation & benefits practice. “His proficiency will help our emerging and public companies clients navigate the complex equity and executive compensation issues they face on a regular basis and during transactions. Blake will also fit well into our culture of collaboration and collegiality, and we are thrilled to have him on our side of the table.”

Martell’s practice is focused on negotiating and drafting equity compensation and employee benefits plans for companies and in support of mergers and acquisitions. He also advises clients on corporate governance and disclosure, tax, securities and accounting treatment with respect to equity awards and plans, pension plans, welfare plans, and retention and bonus plans.

“Cooley has a powerful client base, from nimble startups to industry giants, which makes this move particularly invigorating,” Martell said. “I’m confident my experience will be an asset to an already extraordinary group of lawyers.”

Before Fenwick & West, Martell was at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. He received his JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law and his LLM from New York University School of Law. He started his legal career at Littler Mendelson.

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