John Bostic joins Cooley's Palo Alto office as partner

He worked for nearly a decade at the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California

John Bostic joins Cooley's Palo Alto office as partner

Cooley LLP has announced that John Bostic has joined the firm as a partner in its white-collar defence and investigations practice and global litigation department.

Bostic transitions from the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, where he served for nearly a decade and prosecuted high-profile cases, including those against Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and COO Ramesh Balwani.

At Cooley, Bostic will advise clients on complex government and internal investigations, regulatory enforcement actions, prosecutions, and commercial litigation. His extensive experience and reputation as a top-tier prosecutor make him a valuable addition to Cooley’s legal team.

“John is a tremendously talented trial lawyer with an unmatched reputation as a prosecutor in Silicon Valley,” said Andrew Goldstein, head of Cooley’s white-collar defense and investigations group. “John’s unflappable demeanour and impressive advocacy skills make him the person you want in the courtroom and the boardroom when the stakes are highest. He will be an invaluable resource for our innovative clients as they continue to face heightened investigative, enforcement and regulatory scrutiny.”

Bostic’s notable achievements include leading criminal investigations and prosecutions in various federal cases such as securities fraud, bank fraud, insider trading, computer hacking, and public corruption. He played a pivotal role in the investigation and trials of Theranos’ Holmes and Balwani. He served as co-first-chair trial counsel in a high-profile domestic terrorism case, resulting in the conviction of right-wing extremists involved in the fatal attack at the Oakland federal courthouse in 2020.

“We have strategically built an unparalleled roster of courtroom advocates and top-tier former government attorneys from the Department of Justice, Congress, and several other federal agencies – including nearly 30 new litigation partners in the last three years alone,” said Michael Attanasio, chair of Cooley’s global litigation department.

“With his impeccable reputation, stellar track record, and extensive civil and criminal litigation experience, John is the epitome of Cooley’s diverse, next-generation talent. His courtroom performance in the Theranos trials – one of the most closely watched cases in Silicon Valley and the country – fits perfectly with our culture of elite advocacy,” Attanasio added.

Bostic earned his law degree from Stanford Law School and clerked for US District Judge Marilyn L. Huff of the US District Court for the Southern District of California. Before his public service career, he spent six years at a San Francisco boutique firm, representing clients in complex commercial litigation and government investigations.

“I have been so impressed by the recent strategic growth and the talent in Cooley’s white-collar practice, and I could not think of a better platform for my return to private practice,” said Bostic.