Veteran Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe partner John Cook has left the firm after more than a quarter of a century to go in-house at a rapidly growing clean energy company.

Cook, who has spent the entirety of his career at Orrick and most recently led its corporate group in San Francisco, has joined Oregon-based Intersect Power as chief legal officer. He brings experience in the tech, cleantech and energy industries leading hundreds of M&A and financing transactions involving both public and private companies.

"John has been our lead outside counsel since we founded Intersect Power in 2016 and a long-time partner to our team," said Sheldon Kimber, CEO of Intersect Power, adding that his “experience, focus and dedication position our company to capture opportunities for the clean energy industry and create new pathways between clean electricity and the broader economy." 

Commenting of the move, Cook said: “I am passionate about climate change and the team here at Intersect Power has an aggressive, unique and attainable vision. While I had a big impact at Orrick, I am excited to have a more direct impact by joining Intersect Power.”

He added that although renewables M&A became the largest part of his practice, he has “always been a generalist and my main clients considered me a trusted advisor as well as counsel. This skill set will only benefit me in my new role.”

Cook has worked with Kimber and the rest of Intersect Power’s senior management team for over a decade, which he said would make the transition from outside counsel to in-house “relatively seamless.” 

Cook will work closely with Jen Manter, who will report to him as EVP legal and administration, general counsel, to grow Intersect’s legal team. He said that Manter, who joined the business almost five years ago from a role as adjunct professor at the John Marshall Law School, has “complementary skills, so I am confident we will be a great team.”

Intersect Power develops clean energy resources providing low-carbon electricity, fuels and related products to its customers in retail and wholesale energy markets across North America.