About John B.
John B. Hale has built a long career marked by steady professional presence on both sides of the Midwest and the Pacific Coast. He studied politics and law in two well-known institutions. He received his A.B. from Georgetown University in 1979 and earned his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1982. Those credentials framed a legal path that moved between Wisconsin and California.
After law school, Hale established himself in private practice and over time took on leadership roles within his firm. He became a partner at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP. The firm appointment placed him in the company of lawyers working on complex corporate and transactional matters. His work has required familiarity with the regulatory and commercial environments of more than one state.
Hale is authorized to practice in both Wisconsin and California. That dual licensure has allowed him to handle matters that involve cross-jurisdictional questions and to advise clients who operate across state lines. He has navigated the practical differences in court rules, local counsel arrangements and compliance requirements that come with practicing in two distinct legal communities.
Colleagues say his approach to casework is methodical. He attends to documentation and client instructions carefully. He has been involved in supervising teams within the firm and coordinating with outside counsel. Over the years he has developed working routines that help move complex matters forward while keeping client principals informed.
Outside the courtroom and the conference room, Hale’s long tenure in law practice has given him insight into how institutional and transactional disputes evolve. He has seen clients change their governance and operational practices in response to shifting legal standards. That historical perspective informs how he advises on risk and governance questions even today.
In recent years he has remained at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP and continued to take on matters that draw on his experience in both Wisconsin and California. He maintains an active role in client representation and firm management. He is a partner at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, where his current work involves representing clients across Wisconsin and California.
