Suzanne Y. Bell

From financial service entities to pharmaceutical manufacturers, companies that perhaps never considered technology as a business requisite are facing a modern reality, according to Bell, co-chair of Covington & Burling’s technology and IP transactions practice group.

“Every company needs to be a technology company these days. They’re connecting with customers and users in new ways,” said Bell.

She gives legal advice on structuring business models for emerging tech companies but also traditional companies that are newly embracing technology. It’s part of what drew her to Covington & Burling nearly three years ago, after nearly three decades with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC. Covington already represented big-name companies but didn’t have a presence on the West Coast in her specific practice area.

“It was a great opportunity for someone to come in and do that,” Bell said. “Obviously, it’s a lot of work, but it’s invigorating to take on a new challenge.”

Bell represents companies working in advanced tech areas, including autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital health, and clean technology. Those deals span intellectual property asset purchases and sales, technology mergers, acquisitions and spinoffs, and IP litigation settlement agreements.

For instance, Bell has been representing social media giant Facebook Inc. in its commercial and IP transactions for a foray into augmented- and virtual reality. She represented Facebook in a March 2020 deal with UK-based device manufacturer Plessey Semiconductors Ltd. to develop and supply micro-LEDs for augmented reality glasses.

Bell also recently led a team of Covington lawyers in representing Argo AI LLC in a $2.6 billion investment deal with automaker Volkswagen AG. Argo AI is a technology platform company developing self-driving systems. As part of the deal that closed in June 2020, Argo AI takes over VW’s self-driving business unit valued at $1.6 billion.

“I would say I’m the go-to person for some of the most complicated and cutting-edge transactions,” she said.

Bell also finds time to give back, especially for organizations focused on children. She does pro bono work for Khan Academy, a free online education organization, and Thorn, a nonprofit focused on developing technologies to combat online child sexual abuse. She’s also a longtime volunteer for the Girl Scouts of Northern California.

— Jennifer McEntee