Cooley (NYC) vs. Goodwin (NYC) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Between Cooley and Goodwin, which firm is better for EC/VC work in NYC? Seems like Cooley has a broader range of startups while Goodwin focuses mostly on biotech/life sciences. Am I off base here? I’m trying to do EC/VC and want to be at a firm that has the best reputation and client base for a wide range of exit options. Would Goodwin only allow me to exit to biotech companies and would Cooley prevent me from being able to move into the biotech space if I wanted to?

[uncle_rico]

Pick Cooley. As someone that does a lot of deals across from them, they work on very cool deals for a wider variety of industries. The life sciences and biotech startup work gets old quickly if you don't have a background in that space and aren't specifically interested in it going in.

[Anonymous User]

Between Cooley and Goodwin, which firm is better for EC/VC work in NYC? Seems like Cooley has a broader range of startups while Goodwin focuses mostly on biotech/life sciences. Am I off base here? I’m trying to do EC/VC and want to be at a firm that has the best reputation and client base for a wide range of exit options. Would Goodwin only allow me to exit to biotech companies and would Cooley prevent me from being able to move into the biotech space if I wanted to?

Knowing a lot of people at both, each of these offices has a great culture for NY big law. Cooley will generally limit you to lifecycle stage (you will be in the EC/VC group or public company group) and Goodwin will generally limit you to industry (you will be in the tech group or the life sciences group). Either of those things will shape what your exit options are. One person could argue that only knocking out venture deals and private M&A exits is limiting, and another could argue that only working with tech or biotech companies is limiting. Totally comes down to what you are looking for.

[Anonymous User]

Interested in lateral move to NYC but stay in ECVC. Any insight on Latham and Gunderson?

[Anonymous User]

Interested in lateral move to NYC but stay in ECVC. Any insight on Latham and Gunderson?

Where would you be starting? Gunderson obviously has an edge on ECVC work versus Latham even though the latter does have a solid group. However, I have heard from friends that it is fairly easy to move between offices at Latham but don’t know about Gunderson.