Cooley expands PE practice

US-based law firm Cooley has expanded its US and UK private equity practice with the addition of three private equity lawyers.

Ron Hopkinson joins the firm’s New York office from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, where he headed the firm’s private equity group. Eric Schwartzman joins the team in Palo Alto, California, from Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ Silicon Valley office. Stephen Rosen joins the firm’s London office from Olswang, where he spearheaded the firm’s private equity and venture capital group.

Hopkinson worked at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft for eight years, where he focused on leveraged buyouts and private equity transactions. Prior to this he worked alongside Schwartzman at Latham & Watkins. During their tenure they worked together in New York representing a myriad of private equity sponsors, according to a statement from Cooley.

Rosen leaves Olswang after 13 years. During his tenure he acted for high growth companies, investors, and management teams on corporate transactions. He was also a member of the firm’s life sciences group.

The appointments follow another hire made in Cooley’s London office in last week. Colm Murphy joined the firm as life sciences partner from Venner Shipley’s chemical and life sciences practice.

Since opening its first London office in January 2015 with 19 partners, Cooley has hired eight additional partners, according to sister title Private Healthcare Investor.

Cooley has over 5,000 private company clients focusing on technology and life sciences. The firm currently has 51 private equity partners located across its offices in the US, UK and Asia, according to a spokesman for the firm.