Shawn B. Cooley
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." Shawn is also recognized as a leading lawyer for International Trade and National Security: CFIUS by Legal 500 US.
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 and National Security: CFIUS Award Brief — Legal 500 2025
- Shawn Cooley Named a “Leading” Lawyer for International Trade: CFIUS Experts Award Brief — Chambers Global 2024
Firm News & Announcements
- Weil Advised Goldman Sachs Alternatives in $280M Continuation Vehicle for Point72 Fintech Assets Deal Brief — January 15, 2026
- Weil Advises Luminar Technologies in Sale Process for its LiDAR Assets and Stalking Horse Agreement with QCi Deal Brief — January 14, 2026
- Weil Secures Court Approval of Special Master’s Recommendation for Sale of CITGO to Amber Firm Announcement — January 14, 2026
- Weil Advises Sanofi in its $2.2 Billion Acquisition of Dynavax Deal Brief — December 24, 2025
- Weil Advised Motive Partners in its Strategic Investment in Electric Mind Deal Brief — October 28, 2025
Latest Thinking
- CFIUS Trends, Tactics, and Transformations from the 2024 Annual Report Alert — By Shawn B. Cooley, Colin Giuseppe Cox, Christina Carone and Sisi Liu — PDF — August 14, 2025
- Presidential Action Regarding Nippon Steel Establishes Two New Significant CFIUS Precedents Alert — Foreign Investment & Trade — By Shawn B. Cooley, Christina Carone and Sisi Liu — PDF — July 17, 2025
- CFIUS Is Locked and Loaded, but What Lies Ahead for CFIUS Enforcement Activity? Alert — Foreign Investment & Trade — By Shawn B. Cooley — PDF — September 12, 2024
- CFIUS Bears Its Teeth While Demonstrating Further Sophistication: 2023 Annual Report Shows Increased Enforcement and More Efficiency Alert — Foreign Investment & Trade — By Shawn B. Cooley and Christina Carone — PDF — August 12, 2024
- President Biden Creates Another National Security Program Focused on China and Other Countries of Concern to Limit their Access to Certain Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and U.S. Government Related Data Alert — Foreign Investment & Trade — By Shawn B. Cooley and Christina Carone — PDF — April 08, 2024