Cooley LLP announced today that Geoff Willard has joined its Reston, Virginia office as a partner in the Business department. Willard, who practiced with Cooley previously from 2000 through 2005, returns to Cooley from VLP Law Group LLP where he chaired that firm’s Corporate, Securities and M&A group. Prior to VLP, he was a partner in the corporate, M&A and emerging companies practice of DLA Piper.
Willard has significant experience representing emerging growth companies, their investors, managers, and boards in a wide range of corporate, securities, and commercial transactional matters. His practice focuses on M&A, equity and debt financings (including venture capital, strategic, seed, and angel financings), joint ventures and strategic alliances and other corporate matters, both domestic and cross-border.
“Geoff’s practice aligns very closely with Cooley’s strengths, particularly in the emerging and middle-market company space,” said Fred Muto, chair of Cooley’s Business department. “We are thrilled to welcome him back to the firm.”
Willard also advises clients on the formation and structuring of new business entities, licensing and commercial contracting matters, general employment and equity compensation matters and corporate governance issues.
“Cooley has been the leader in the Mid-Atlantic emerging companies space since it established its presence in Northern Virginia in 1999. My practice is a natural complement to Cooley’s existing client base, and my clients will benefit greatly from Cooley’s full-service capability, including expertise in business and IP litigation matters, capital markets transactions and transformative mergers and acquisitions,” said Willard. “I very much look forward to rejoining many of my former colleagues and hitting the ground running.”
Willard earned his B.A., cum laude, from New York University and his J.D., summa cum laude, from American University, where he was a member of the law review.
