Biography

Prior to joining Weil, Mr. Cooley was a partner at another international law firm. Prior to that, he served for nine years as the Director of Foreign Investment Risk Management at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and advised the Assistant Secretary for Policy, the General Counsel, the Deputy Secretary, and the Secretary within DHS, spanning three administrations, on all matters pertaining to foreign investment in the United States. In that role, Mr. Cooley managed the review and disposition of over 1,000 CFIUS cases and hundreds of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) telecommunications license applications before Team Telecom.
Shawn is recognized as a leading lawyer for International Trade: CFIUS Experts by Chambers Global and Nationwide International Trade: CFIUS Experts by Chambers USA, where clients note “he is very thoughtful of the business aspects," “he is knowledgeable" and "can think behind the scenes on how the government works on these transactions."
Mr. Cooley received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the Columbus School of Law, where he was a member of the Catholic University Law Review, and his B.S., with distinction and honors, from Pennsylvania State University.
Awards and Recognition, Speaking Engagements, Guides and Resources, Firm News & Announcements, Latest Thinking
Awards and Recognition
- Shawn Cooley Named a “Leading” Lawyer for International Trade: CFIUS Experts Award Brief — Chambers Global 2022
- Shawn Cooley Named a “Leading” Lawyer for Nationwide International Trade: CFIUS Experts Award Brief — Chambers USA 2021
Speaking Engagements
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8th National Conference on CFIUS
Speaker(s):
Shawn B. Cooley
April 27, 2022 — Washington, D.C. — Weil Corporate partner Shawn B. Cooley spoke on a panel titled “The Present and Future of CFIUS Scrutiny for Non-Notified Sectors: New Technology Sectors Under the Microscope – From Bio Tech to Dating Apps” as part of American Conference Institute’s 8th National Conference on CFIUS.
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7th National Conference on CFIUS
Speaker(s):
Shawn B. Cooley
April 20, 2021 — Weil Corporate partner Shawn B. Cooley spoke on a panel titled “Interactive Think-Tank with CFIUS Alumni: Addressing FIRRMA Pressure Points and Challenges” as part of American Conference Institute’s 7th National Conference on CFIUS.
Firm News & Announcements
- Weil Advised Blackstone in its Sale of Concert Golf Partners to Clearlake Capital Group Deal Brief — April 21, 2022
- Weil Advised CVC Capital Partners in its Acquisition of Radwell International, LLC Deal Brief — April 01, 2022
Latest Thinking
- OFAC Issues Sanctions Compliance Guidelines for Virtual Currency Industry Alert — Global Private Equity Watch — By Shawn B. Cooley, Timothy C. Welch and Glenda Bleiberg — PDF — October 25, 2021
- More Resources, More Tools: The 2020 Annual CFIUS Report Shows Faster Clearance Times and More Robust Review Capabilities Alert — Global Private Equity Watch — By Shawn B. Cooley, Nathan Cunningham and Timothy C. Welch — PDF — August 17, 2021