Yvan-Claude Pierre

Partner at Cooley LLP

Yvan-Claude Pierre, also known as "YCP," is a prominent partner at Cooley LLP, a global law firm.1 3 He is a founding member of Cooley's Chicago office and serves as a partner in the firm's Business Department, based in both the Chicago and New York offices.3

Professional Background

Yvan-Claude Pierre specializes in capital markets and public companies practice groups.1 His expertise includes:

Advising clients on complex and transformative transactions
Guiding companies through public offerings and IPOs
Handling M&A and other significant corporate transactions worldwide4

He is recognized as a leading capital markets lawyer and one of the few Black partners globally for IPO representations.2

Achievements and Recognition

Yvan-Claude Pierre has received numerous accolades for his work:

Named a Midwest Trailblazer by The American Lawyer
Recognized by Super Lawyers for Securities & Corporate Finance Law
Listed among the Top 50 Global M&A Lawyers by Global M&A Network (2015)
Acknowledged by The Legal 500 for Capital Markets and M&A Middle-Market and Technology Transactions1

Diversity and Inclusion Efforts

YCP is known for his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the legal profession:

He led the founding of Cooley's Chicago office with a focus on building a diverse team
Under his leadership, more than half of the lawyers in Cooley's Chicago office are women, and nearly half are racially diverse or identify as LGBTQ+2
He serves on the Advisory Board of Chicago, an organization dedicated to increasing diversity in venture capital and startups2

Additional Roles and Involvement

Board Member of STRIVE (2014-present)
Chicago Blend Board Member1
Featured speaker on diversity panels and podcasts, including the Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project Podcast5 6

Yvan-Claude Pierre is committed to transforming the legal industry by prioritizing diversity and inclusion while maintaining high standards of professional excellence.