Los Angeles – February 28, 2024 – Cooley continues to bolster its exceptional commercial litigation and class action practices with the addition of partner Teresa Michaud, who joins the firm's growing downtown Los Angeles office. She arrives from Baker McKenzie, where she served on the global steering committee of the technology, media and telecommunications industry group and co-chaired the firm's North American class action team. Michaud's practice centers on advising clients in all aspects of dispute resolution, including complex business disputes, class actions and privacy litigation.

"Teresa's background representing innovative global companies aligns perfectly with Cooley's core strengths – and will bolster our ability to meet rising demand in Southern California and beyond," said Mike Attanasio, chair of Cooley's global litigation department. "Her client roster includes leading players in technology, media and telecommunications. We are thrilled to welcome another experienced litigator and strong leader as we continue to build our team of elite, next-generation advocates to defend the most cutting-edge and disruptive companies in the world."

"We are thrilled to welcome Teresa to Cooley's growing and cross-functional Los Angeles team," said John-Paul Motley, partner in charge of the firm's downtown Los Angeles office. "She is an industry-leading litigator, and her extensive experience and global perspective serves as a natural pairing with the needs of our current and future clients."

Michaud has deep experience representing some of the nation's top technology and ecommerce brands on all aspects of commercial litigation, including multi-jurisdictional contract disputes, and consumer class actions under California and federal law. She also has a broad understanding in matters involving consumer protection and privacy. She regularly advises global companies on litigation avoidance practices – including contract provisions, ecommerce terms and conditions, content moderation and regulation, and data privacy and security. Complementing Cooley's increasingly global litigation practice, Michaud also is a qualified solicitor in England and Wales.

"Cooley has an unmatched track record representing the world's most innovative, high-growth organizations across the full gamut of complex class action and commercial disputes," Michaud said. "I am excited to work with the outstanding multidisciplinary litigation and corporate teams in the downtown Los Angeles office. Cooley is a perfect fit for my practice because of its culture, its platform and the entrepreneurial DNA that runs through the entire firm."

Cooley's commercial litigation practice is led by some of the world's most sophisticated advocates, and it has a long history of solving complex issues at the intersection of law and innovation. The firm's class action practice is one of the most active of its kind in the US, handling an average of 50+ class actions every year on matters including consumer protection, fraud, wage and hour, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), healthcare, finance and banking, copyright, internet transactions and payment processing, privacy, antitrust, mass torts, and statutory violations. Cooley has won some of the largest, complex and highly publicized cases in recent years, and the firm is consistently regarded as a top choice for innovative companies facing any type of commercial dispute.