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Dewey Ballantine

From Alfawiki
Dewey Ballantine LLP
Company typeLimited liability partnership
IndustryLegal services
PredecessorRoot, Clark & Bird
Founded1909
FounderFrancis W. Bird, Grenville Clark, Elihu Root Jr.
Defunct2007
FateMerged with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae to form Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
SuccessorDewey & LeBoeuf LLP
Headquarters
New York City
,
United States
Area served
International
Key people
Thomas E. Dewey (partner from 1955)
ProductsCorporate legal services
Number of employees
Approximately 500 attorneys (in 2007)

Dewey Ballantine LLP was a leading corporate law firm based in New York City. In 2007, it combined with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae to create Dewey & LeBoeuf. The firm underwent several name revisions as partners transitioned between public service and private sector roles.

Establishment

The firm was established in 1909 by Harvard Law alumni Francis W. Bird, Grenville Clark, and Elihu Root Jr., originally named Root, Clark & Bird and situated on Wall Street. Utilizing Elihu Root Jr.’s familial connection to his father, the former US Secretary of State Elihu Root, the firm quickly gained entry into prestigious financial networks and built a robust corporate legal practice.

Evolution of the Firm's Name

In 1913, a merger with Buckner & Howland, led by Emory Buckner, resulted in the firm being renamed Root, Clark, Buckner & Howland. During the 1920s and 1930s, under the guidance of Arthur A. Ballantine—a former IRS solicitor—and Buckner, the firm strategically shifted its focus from litigation toward bankruptcy, reorganizations, and regulatory law in line with New Deal initiatives. This transition broadened their clientele to include major corporations such as AT&T and Standard Oil, expanding the team from 8 to 74 associates and establishing an office in Washington, D.C.

Prominent legal professionals like Henry Friendly and John Marshall Harlan II were part of the organization during this era. Leadership frequently moved into significant government positions: Buckner served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Grenville Clark held the role of Postmaster General; Harlan was appointed to the Second Circuit Court before advancing to the U.S. Supreme Court; Friendly co-founded Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton prior to his appointment to the Second Circuit Court.

Following his tenure as governor, Thomas E. Dewey joined as a partner in 1955. At that time, the firm—then known as Ballantine, Bushby, Palmer & Wood—was renamed Dewey, Ballantine, Bushby, Palmer & Wood. It was later simplified to Dewey Ballantine in 1990 and eventually organized as a limited liability partnership (LLP).

Later Developments

On October 25, 2006, Dewey Ballantine revealed plans to merge with San Francisco-based Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. The proposed merger would have created a firm with over 1,500 lawyers, positioning it among the top ten largest U.S. law firms. However, these discussions were terminated in January 2007. At that point, Dewey Ballantine maintained approximately 500 attorneys across twelve international offices.

Subsequently, on October 1, 2007, Dewey Ballantine merged with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae forming Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, combining more than 1,400 lawyers across 27 global locations. The headquarters remained at Dewey Ballantine’s historic offices within the Calyon Building in Midtown Manhattan. Dewey & LeBoeuf ultimately collapsed in May 2012 due to unsustainable debt caused by aggressive partner recruitment and compensation policies that led to mass departures and financial insolvency.

Distinguished Alumni

External links

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