Cooley Godward has established a branch in Washington DC after a raid on DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, as the West Coast technology leader launches its first office in a major East Coast legal market.

The 450-lawyer firm has hired DLA Piper partners Margaret Kavalaris, Michael Marinelli and Tami Howie to head the branch, which will be its second East Coast office after its 60-lawyer practice in Reston, Northern Virginia. A number of lawyers will relocate from Reston to staff the office.