Sidley Austin LLP adds Jennifer Coplan as a Partner in New York

On March 21, 2013, Sidley Austin LLP announced in a press release that Jennifer B. Coplan joined its New York office as a Technology Transactions partner. Previously, from 2008-2013, Coplan was named one of The Best Lawyers in America. The Technology Transactions practice is a global practice for the law firm.

Sidley Austin’s New York office has more than 340 lawyers. The firm is situated in the heart of the downtown area in New York City. For over 90 years, the office has assisted the financial community, entrepreneurs, entertainment, and other industries with legal solutions. The firm has practices in mergers and acquisitions, banking, investment funds, private equity funds, insurance, securities, broker dealer regulation, bankruptcy, commodities, real estate, and intellectual property.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Coplan graduated from Yale Law School in 1993 and received a BS in Computer Science from Tufts University in 1986.  At Sidley Austin, Coplan’s practice concentrates on intellectual property. She assists information technology firms in advising on transactions, including cross-border and domestic technology development, licensing, and outsourcing. She advises on how to establish and Internet-based businesses, including services in the media, software, consumer electronics, and financial services industries. Intellectual property issues include licensing, protecting, and enforcing copyright, trade secret, and patent.

Prior to Sidley Austin, Coplan worked for Cooley LLP. She advised clients on digital media-related concerns. She has held a leading role in consortia organizations involving entertainment media, including content protection for DVDs, home networking, and digital television. From 2004-2009, she was appointed an Advisor to the American Law Institute’s “Principles of the Law of Software Contracts” project.

Sidley Austin appears to be expanding its Technology Transactions practice, and welcomed Coplan because of her international clients. According to Sidley Austin’s press release, Michael J. Schmidtberger, managing partner of Sidley’s New York office: “Adding Jennifer to our team is a natural next step in the expansion of our global Technology Transactions practice and is a wonderful complement to our growing M&A and corporate practices in New York.”

According to Sidley Austin’s press release, Coplan claimed Sidley Austin fit her career objectives:  “I believe Sidley’s breadth, stellar international platform and collaborative culture makes the firm an ideal fit for me.” Coplan will assist the Sidley Austin in advising clients on novel digital content issues.

Prior to Coplan, Sidley Austin added Glenn Nash to the partners in the Technology Transactions practice in August 2012. Nash works in Sidley’s Palo Alto office. He is a member of the law firm’s Corporate Department and Co-Chair of the firm’s global Technology Transactions Practice. Nash has experience in the Internet, software, and information technology industries.

Nash commented about Coplan’s skills in the firm’s press release: “Jennifer’s skills and experience in the technology and digital media industries are a wonderful addition to the compelling suite of services we provide to technology companies around the world, and we are very happy to welcome Jennifer to our global technology team.”