Erik Edwards

Erik practices general securities and corporate law, with a focus on emerging growth companies, private financings, initial public offerings and M&A. He represents companies and investors in areas including software, hardware, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, edtech, cleantech, life sciences, social impact, fashion, retail, unmanned vehicles, media and other technology fields. He works with incubators in the US and internationally and speaks regularly on various corporate governance and financing topics. Erik is the head of Cooley’s Palo Alto corporate group and a member of the firm’s firmwide partnership nominating and pro bono committees.

Erik also has extensive experience representing and advising small and large family offices on issues including office legal structures and corporate governance, family wealth and business planning, investment strategies, succession and family control, social impact investing, and philanthropic planning.

Erik serves on the board of directors of Swords to Plowshares, a nonprofit assisting veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. He’s also on the advisory board of ONE WORLD, an organization focused on innovative approaches to increasing social impact.

While at Santa Clara University School of Law, Erik served as the business editor of the Santa Clara Law Review. He was the recipient of the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Securities Regulation and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award. He also served as an extern for Judge James Ware (now retired) of the US District Court for the Northern District of California.