New York – July 14, 2026 – Cooley today announced that Michael La Marca has joined the firm as a partner in its global cyber/data/privacy group, where he will be based in New York, less than two months after adding Meredith Halama and Katie Cramer to the practice, in Washington, DC, and Denver, respectively. Like the rest of the lawyers in Cooley’s cyber/data/ privacy practice, La Marca has extensive experience with companies engaged in cutting-edge technology and information practices, including AI, biometrics, geolocation tracking and connected devices. In addition, he has a special focus on advising financial institutions, fintechs and investment management firms.

Together, La Marca, Halama and Cramer enhance the litigation department’s cyber/data/privacy team, which is already recognized among the industry’s best, and reinforce its capabilities to serve both major technology companies and the thousands of up-and-coming innovative companies that Cooley uniquely represents.

“Cooley has long had one of the best privacy and cybersecurity practices for counseling, defense of government investigations and privacy class actions. And, as a result of our reputation in this practice, the demand for counseling is unyielding,” said Ian Shapiro, partner and chair of Cooley’s global litigation department. “Through an extensive process, we identified Michael as among the best of the next generation of privacy and cybersecurity lawyers. Like Meredith and Katie, Michael significantly expands our counseling practice by contributing his exceptional experience in privacy and cybersecurity. We look forward to supporting his emergence as a preeminent practitioner.”

La Marca joins Cooley from Hunton Andrews Kurth where he was a partner in its data, cyber and privacy group. La Marca advises a range of clients, from startups to multinational companies, on privacy, cybersecurity and AI laws, with a focus on companies in the financial services sector. He also negotiates the privacy, cybersecurity and AI-related aspects of commercial agreements and M&A transactions.

“As counsel to the global digital economy, Cooley sits at the center of the most consequential data, AI and cybersecurity questions facing companies today,” said Travis LeBlanc, partner and co-chair of Cooley’s global cyber/data/privacy practice. “Michael brings exactly the depth our clients need. He has built governance programs that keep financial services and AI-driven businesses ahead of regulators, guided clients through the most sensitive data breaches and defended them from enforcement. He makes us a stronger partner to clients navigating the full life cycle of data risk.”

“Cooley’s market-leading platform, exceptional client base and collaborative culture make it the ideal place to help companies navigate their most critical privacy, cybersecurity and AI challenges,” said La Marca. “I’m excited to join a team that’s at the forefront of shaping how these challenges are addressed.”

Cooley’s global litigation department includes more than 500 lawyers in the US and Europe and is the top litigation department for the representation of technology, life sciences and other innovative companies. Since 2025, Cooley has added numerous elite, next-generation lawyers to its litigation department throughout the US, including Elizabeth Prelogar, Raymond Tolentino, Ephraim McDowell, Brian Nelson and Janet Kim in DC; Simona Agnolucci, Ben Hur, Jonathan Patchen, Eduardo Santacana, Joshua Anderson and Tiffany Lin in San Francisco; Michael Rome and Brian Klein in Los Angeles; Lyndsey Kruzer in Boston; and James Kim, Tejal Shah and Sean Quinn in New York.

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