Derek O. Colla

Derek O. Colla is an associate in the Cooley Business Department and a member of the Emerging Companies practice group. He joined the Firm in 2008 and is resident in the Washington, DC office.

Mr. Colla's practice focuses on representing high growth companies and their investors. He has helped to form, finance, and advise hundreds of emerging businesses in areas such as Internet and digital media, consumer products, clean technologies, software, medical devices, and business services. In the past three years alone, he has counseled companies and investors in over 100 venture capital financings, with an aggregate value greater than $500 million, and has advised companies on numerous mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, and follow-on public offerings. While he primarily represents companies in the New York-Washington corridor, Mr. Colla has done transactions with high growth companies all over the world, including a significant number of transactions with Israeli companies.

Mr. Colla received a JD, with honors, in 2008 from Harvard Law School. Following law school, he started his law practice in Cooley's San Diego office before moving to Cooley's Washington, DC office in 2011. Mr. Colla holds a BS in Computer Science, summa cum laude, from Washington and Lee University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Mr. Colla is a member of the State Bar of California and the District of Columbia Bar.

Good to know

Areas of Practice 1) Emerging Companies, 2) Life Sciences, 3) Mergers & Acquisitions, 4) Capital Markets and 5) Venture Capital Financings
Law School Harvard Law School, J.D., 2008
Education Washington & Lee University School of Law, B.S., 2005
Bar Member / Association California State Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association
Most recent firm Cooley LLP
Relevant Jobs
MANAGING SENIOR ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL (GENERAL MATTERS)
USA-DC-Washington

Summary The primary purpose of the Managing Senior Associate General Counsel (General Matters)  is to enable the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) to be responsive to the needs of the District ...

Apply now

Transactional Tax Partner with Big Law Experience (100% work from home)
USA-DC-Washington

Culhane Meadows is seeking a seasoned tax attorney with at least 8 years of practice in general transactional tax work. Candidates must have experience in tax matters including corporate mergers, acq...

Apply now

Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions Associate / Of Counsel
USA-DC-Washington

Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions Associate / Of Counsel The candidate should have 4-10 years of experience in this practice area. 3 years of experience in Mergers & Acquisitions advising public an...

Apply now

+ View more jobs
A. Harrison Barnes
A. Harrison Barnes

Due to his extensive activities in the legal market, A. Harrison Barnes is a well-known attorney throughout the United States. As a member of the Malibu community, Harrison is committed to serving the needs of Malibu residents and businesses in legal

Andrew Hamilton
Andrew Hamilton

Andrew Hamilton is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Business and Finance Practice. Mr. Hamilton practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, securities law, and general corporate counseling.

Barbara A. Fitzgerald
Barbara A. Fitzgerald

Ms. Fitzgerald represents employers in a wide range of industries, including the entertainment, financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, and transportation industries.