About Gordon H.
Gordon H. Empey built his legal foundation at Colgate University, where he earned a B.A. in history in 1990, and continued his studies at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, receiving a J.D. in 1994. Those years shaped his analytic approach to complex problems and anchored the early phase of a career that has spanned public and private matters. He moved from classroom to counsel’s table at a time when lawyers increasingly handled work across state lines.
Soon after law school, Empey began practicing law in the mid-1990s. He joined Cooley Godward Kronish LLP and rose through the firm’s ranks to partner. In that role he has overseen teams, managed client relationships and handled transactions and disputes that required coordination across offices and disciplines. Colleagues describe him as steady under pressure and willing to take on tasks that require careful planning and follow-through.
Empey is admitted to practice in both California and Washington. That dual-licensure has allowed him to work on matters that touch both states, whether advising regional businesses or coordinating counsel across jurisdictions. His background in history and law shows in how he frames issues: he looks for context, precedent and practical outcomes rather than tidy doctrinal answers.
Over the years he has split time between developing client strategy and mentoring junior lawyers. As a partner he has been involved in firm governance and in shaping how cases and deals move from intake to resolution. That often means translating legal risks into business terms for clients, and guiding less experienced attorneys through drafting and negotiation tasks until they can carry those responsibilities independently.
Outside the firm, Empey has kept ties to the legal community through professional associations. He has participated in panels and local meetings when schedules permitted, and he remains engaged in continuing legal education to keep current on evolving rules and practice trends. His approach to professional development is practical: learn what changes affect clients and apply that knowledge promptly.
He currently focuses his practice on advising clients on multistate corporate and commercial matters, drawing on experience earned over three decades at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP.
