John B. Hale is a partner in the Credit Finance practice group and a member of the Cooley Business department. He joined the Firm in 2005 and is resident in the Palo Alto office.

Mr. Hale's practice focuses on venture debt, involving secured and unsecured lending, credit workouts, and equipment leasing. He represents banks, asset-based lenders and debt funds on term and revolving facilities with technology companies. He has advised life science, software, and other emerging technology companies on credit agreements, warrants and equipment leases. Mr. Hale is also recognized in the Best Lawyers in America 2014-2015 editions for Banking and Finance Law.

Prior to joining Cooley, Mr. Hale was a partner in DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, the successor to Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich. He began his legal career as an associate at Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro and, before that, served as an aide to Representative William A. Steiger (R-Wisconsin).

Mr. Hale received his JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1982. He received his AB in Government from Georgetown University in 1979.

Mr. Hale is a member of the State Bar of California and the State Bar of Wisconsin.