Internet of Things

Why Cooley

Cooley represents 350+ companies focused on the burgeoning industry of Internet of Things (IoT) and has counseled many of them long before the term “IoT” was even coined. Our clients range from high-profile, multibillion-dollar, publicly held companies to emerging startups looking to disrupt the way business is done around the world. From wearable devices and smart home solutions to cloud-based data storage and chip manufacturers, they focus on improving various industries such as utilities, healthcare, retail and agriculture. Our work with these companies runs the full legal spectrum from technology transactions and licensing, corporate formation, venture and private equity financing, mergers and acquisitions and public offerings to regulatory, intellectual property protection, privacy and data security, employment and severance matters and litigation.

Corporate

Our clients come to Cooley at different stages of development and need. For startup companies, we review client business plans, assist in structuring the commercialization of their products and services and meet with founding teams to prepare them to seek financing. We have deep connections with angel investors and venture capital firms looking to fund next-generation technologies, products and services, and we work with our clients to identify potential financing sources and make introductions to those sources. As our clients scale their businesses, we advise on strategic transactions, growth and equity financings and liquidity events.

Areas of Practice

• Commercial and distribution agreements
• Company formation
• Financings
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Public financings and private placements
• Sale and purchase of assets
• Strategic partnerships
• Tax

Litigation

With the DNA of Silicon Valley and the muscle of a national litigation and trial practice, Cooley litigators are at the forefront of the new legal frontiers involving our clients and their competitors, consumers and regulators. We are routinely called to defend our clients when litigation issues surface, often resulting from plaintiffs’ lawyers’ attempts to apply established laws to emerging technologies. Our lawyers have a particular experience in class action defense and complex commercial litigation, representing clients throughout the United States in trial and appellate courts and before administrative agencies.

Areas of Practice

• Antitrust litigation
• Class action defense
• Contract and license disputes
• Employment litigation
• Privacy litigation
• Product liability
• Restructuring, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights
• Securities litigation
• Tax controversy

Regulatory

Internet of Things devices and components manufacturers are subject to the FCC’s equipment authorization rules and spectrum auction policies. As the IoT landscape develops, the FCC, FTC and other agencies will increase their focus on privacy and cybersecurity issues related to devices and the services they provide. Cooley regularly counsels clients as they shape their businesses around technologies that use spectrum, satellite or geolocation and create and distribute content on platforms regulated by government or state agencies. Our lawyers are well-versed in the regulatory issues that affect the industry, including FCC and FTC proceedings, antitrust and consumer protection provisions, privacy and data security issues and employment and benefits matters.

Areas of Practice

• Antitrust counseling
• Communications regulatory counseling
• Corporate governance
• Employment and benefits
• Export control and international trade regulations
• Privacy and data protection counseling and data breach response
• Product liability

Intellectual Property

Cooley represents clients in the full scope of intellectual property prosecution, counseling and litigation, including patent, copyright, trademark, false advertising, licensing, trade secret and domain name. We focus on pragmatic aspects of achieving optimal business deals while counseling clients on protecting their IP rights and avoiding violations of others' rights. When necessary, clients can call upon our leading IP litigation practice, which has built a reputation for litigating technology cases ranging from major commercial competitor patent litigation to multi-defendant patent litigation involving non-practicing entities, and has substantial experience in the key litigation forums.

Areas of Practice

• IP litigation (patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, trade dress, false advertising, and licensing)
• ITC Section 337 investigations
• Patent counseling and prosecution
• Patent Office litigation
• Trademark, copyright and advertising