David Young is a partner in Cooley's business department and is a member of the Firm's Emerging Companies practice group. Mr. Young joined the Firm in 2012 and is a founding partner of its Los Angeles office. David concentrates in the representation of emerging growth companies at all stages, as well as the venture capital firms, strategic investors and investment banks that finance these companies. In addition to providing strategic counseling, his practice encompasses venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, equity compensation matters, SEC reporting and disclosure, intellectual property licensing, complex corporate partnering transactions and corporate governance. He represents both public and private companies, primarily in the digital media, technology, cleantech, life sciences and media and entertainment sectors, and also frequently represents venture capital firms and other investors in financings and underwriters in public offerings. Prior to joining Cooley, David was a partner at DLA Piper, serving as the chair of its Corporate and Finance Group for its Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix offices.  Prior to that, after spending time working with emerging companies in each of San Diego, Silicon Valley and Seattle, in 2000 David was a founder of the Los Angeles office of Venture Law Group. David obtained his MBA in Finance from University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and his JD from USC Gould School of Law.