Semiconductor
Why Cooley
From helping form National Semiconductor in the late 1950s to taking Qualcomm public in the early 1990s to recently securing a $1.5 billion patent suit settlement for NVIDIA, Cooley has been a trusted advisor to our semiconductor clients since the early beginnings of the industry. Our experience stretches across semiconductor fields, including ICs for wireless communications, networking, data compression, security, geolocation, graphics processing and various dedicated ASICs. Whether companies are startups armed with little more than a disruptive business model or established multibillion-dollar public companies, we counsel our clients on the hot-button issues affecting their businesses.
Corporate
Since the rise of the Silicon Valley during the 1970s, we have focused on the representation of innovative technology companies – many of which have been pioneers establishing new industries and business models. We have guided semiconductor companies through all stages of corporate growth, from company formation, financing and debt transactions through strategic deals, public offerings and corporate governance. We also have significant experience advising on complex commercial and licensing agreements, technology outsourcing and tax-efficient transactional structures.
Areas of Practice
- Commercial agreements
- Company formation
- Financings
- Fund formation
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Public financings and private placements
- Real estate, land use/zoning and leasing
- Sale and purchase of assets
- Strategic partnerships and joint ventures
- 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 challenging new legal frontiers involving our clients and their competitors, consumers and regulators. Decades of experience representing cutting-edge technology companies allow us to offer the most current, creative and comprehensive advice that reflects both our deep industry knowledge and our commitment to staying in tune with new regulations, practices and 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
- IP Litigation
- Privacy litigation
- Restructuring, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights
- Securities litigation
- Tax controversy
- White collar defense
Regulatory
WWe understand the intersection of technology and law and the impact it is having on transformative businesses. Our lawyers have a strong understanding of the regulatory environment and the business concerns that semiconductor companies faces on a daily basis. From responding to regulatory agency audits, addressing cybersecurity issues and counseling on environmental regulations to implementing corporate structures, assessing export control risks and advising on technology outsourcing, our regulatory and enforcement experience is unmatched by any other firm in the technology sector.
Areas of Practice
- Antitrust counseling
- Corporate governance
- Employment and benefits
- Government contracts
- Export control and international trade regulations
- Privacy and data protection counseling and data breach response
Intellectual Property
The licensing and commercialization of semiconductor technologies are a key part of our intellectual property and technology transactions team’s focus. As one of the top firms in the country for intellectual property law, our lawyers provide sophisticated representation to a range of players, from operating companies to investors backing game-changing technologies. We are especially adept in securing IP protection for high-technology companies. We also provide strategic IP counseling directed towards monetizing such assets. In addition, we are often involved in patent and trademark litigation matters, as well as due diligence surrounding mergers, acquisitions, funding and other transactions.
Areas of Practice
- Copyright design and protection
- IP Litigation
- Patent procurement and enforcement
- Portfolio management and analysis
- Technology transactions and licensing
- Trade secrets counseling
- Trademark protection and enforcement