Womble Bond Dickinson enters San Francisco legal market, combines with Cooper, White & Cooper

Transatlantic Law Firm Womble Bond Dickinson announced today its combination with San Francisco-based Cooper White & Cooper LLP, a multi-practice firm with more than a century of experience providing comprehensive representation to clients in the Bay Area and across the US. With this year marking the fifth anniversary of Womble Bond Dickinson’s transatlantic combination, it has celebrated growth across the UK and the US.

Effective 1 September 2022, the expansion further strengthens Womble Bond Dickinson’s capabilities in California and comes on the heels of growth in other innovation centres, including New York and Nashville earlier this year. With existing offices in Irvine, Los Angeles and Silicon Valley, the firm now has more than 50 attorneys across four markets in California and a global platform of over 1,000 lawyers in 29 UK and US offices.

“California is home to some of the world’s key business and technology hubs, with San Francisco chief among them,” said Betty Temple, CEO and Chair of Womble Bond Dickinson (US). “The state – and indeed the entire West Coast – is strategically important to Womble, and we are thrilled to anchor our presence in the market through a firm that is well-known for its robust litigation and transactional skills. We look forward to continuing the growth of our services and footprint on the West Coast and in other key markets to provide greater value to our clients”.

Paul Stewart, Managing Partner of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP added “In alignment with our strategic plan, this office – combined with our existing presence in other key locations – continues our growth trajectory in markets that are driving innovation and technological change”.

“We have been impressed by WBD’s transatlantic platform and stellar reputation for advising companies on complex, high-stakes issues” said Jed Solomon, a partner at Cooper, White & Cooper. “Combined with our cultural compatibility and shared commitment to exceptional client service, this was an ideal opportunity to expand our services to our collective client base”.

Founded in 1896, Cooper, White & Cooper has a proven track record representing clients in litigation and transactional matters across a broad range of sectors, including energy, financial services, media and telecoms, infrastructure, healthcare, intellectual property, manufacturing, real estate, retail and technology. Their team will be joined in the San Francisco office by Womble Bond Dickinson partners Chris Mammen, Steve Levitan and Carrie Richey, who focus their practices on IP litigation matters. Cooper, White & Cooper will continue to serve clients from their Walnut Creek office, which opened in 1989.