Cooley has added a corporate partner, brought in from Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, to lead further Asian expansion with a fourth office in Singapore.

Continued expansion

Cooley has added Ferish Patel, who will join in Hong Kong having served as head of the Gunderson Dettmer Singapore office. Cooley intends to continue its expansion into Southeast Asia and will pursue setting up a Singapore office to be led by Mr Patel. The opening of such an office will be subject to obtaining regulatory and other approvals. “Ferish is well known and highly regarded for his extensive experience advising high-growth companies and investment funds in Singapore, India, China and elsewhere across Southeast Asia,” said Mike Lincoln, chair of Cooley's global business department. “His practice is synergistic with our deep commitment to the region and building on our momentum. We are excited to add his strengths to the team.” The new office will follow Cooley’s Shanghai and Beijing offices, which opened in 2011 and 2018, respectively, and Hong Kong which launched earlier this year.

Collaborative approach

Mr Patel advises high-growth technology companies at all stages of their life cycle, including through exit. He guides founders, management teams, investment funds and boards of directors on strategic decision-making, private financings and corporate governance issues, as well as IPOs and M&A matters. “I have long been impressed by Cooley’s collaborative approach in delivering success to clients in the US and globally and have been closely watching the firm’s substantial investments in Asia,” Mr Patel said. “I am thrilled to join the team and contribute to our further growth.” Mr Patel, who is US and Hong Kong qualified, began his career at Simpson Thacher in New York and previously has practiced at Davis Polk.