William K. Pao joins Cooley’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the firm’s securities litigation + enforcement group and global litigation department. He arrives from O’Melveny & Myers where he served as chair of the fintech group and co-chair of the artificial intelligence (AI) group. At Cooley, Pao will advise a broad range of clients – including cryptocurrency and block chain pioneers – on securities, regulatory and litigation issues.
“Will’s diverse practice is a home run for our innovative clients, especially the fintech and cryptocurrency companies that look to Cooley for sophisticated advice on cutting-edge issues,” said Michael Attanasio, partner and chair of Cooley’s global litigation department. “We are thrilled to have him deepen our securities litigation bench while continuing our push to bring top-tier talent to our LA offices.”
Pao advises traditional banking and fintech clients on a wide range of complex and cross-border issues, including commercial and consumer litigation and regulatory issues. He clerked for Judge David F. Levi, formerly of the US District Court for the Eastern District of California, and Judge Fortunato Benavides of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
“Will’s experience with securities litigation and regulatory issues involving cryptocurrencies is unparalleled,” said Patrick Gibbs, partner and head of Cooley’s securities litigation + enforcement group. “Additionally, he can provide culturally comprehensive analysis of cross-border issues for US-listed Chinese companies and US companies operating in China.”
Cooley’s securities litigation team is the go-to resource for the most innovative companies in the world as they confront escalating challenges from the plaintiffs’ bar, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other state and federal agencies. The group has deep experience representing clients in a wide range of securities matters – such as alleged accounting and disclosure fraud, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, insider trading, data breaches and cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, and regulations involving broker-dealers and investment advisers.
Pao is the latest arrival in California for Cooley’s litigation department following bankruptcy partner Michael Neumeister and commercial litigation partner Teresa Michaud in Los Angeles, along with former assistant US attorney John Bostic in Palo Alto.
“I’m excited to be part of Cooley’s recent growth in California,” said Pao. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues and supporting Cooley’s innovative fintech and banking clients.”
Cooley’s global litigation department has added more than 40 next-generation litigation partners in recent years across multiple practice groups in the US and Europe.