Mark Pitchford, Partner - Chief Operating Officer

Mark B. Pitchford is Chief Operating Officer of Cooley and a partner in the Firm's Litigation department. He joined Cooley in 1984, after having been a summer associate with the Firm in 1983. He is resident in the Firm's Palo Alto office.

Prior to becoming COO in February 2001, Mr. Pitchford engaged in a diverse business litigation practice in both federal and state courts. A significant portion of his practice was devoted to commercial contract litigation and license disputes. He also litigated trade secret misappropriation and trademark matters.

In addition to practicing in state and federal courts, Mr. Pitchford handled matters in a variety of alternative dispute resolution forums. He also provided a wide range of pre-litigation counseling to the Firm's clients.

In 1989, Mr. Pitchford served as a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Santa Clara as part of a cooperative program between Cooley and the District Attorney's office. He received a J.D., cum laude, from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1984. He attended Stanford University on a basketball scholarship, where he received an A.B. in International Relations with distinction and departmental honors in 1981.

Mr. Pitchford is admitted to practice before all of the courts of the State of California. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Northern and Eastern Districts of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Santa Clara County Bar Association.

In 1999, California Law & Business named Mr. Pitchford one of California's top 20 up and coming lawyers under the age of 40.

Education

• Santa Clara University School of Law
  JD, 1984, cum laude
• Stanford University
  AB International Relations, 1981, With distinction

Court Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

Admissions

• California

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Santa Clara County Bar Association