Milbank
| Company type | Limited liability partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Legal services |
| Founded | 1866 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Legal services |
Milbank LLP (widely referred to as Milbank) is a global legal practice headquartered in New York City, with additional offices situated in prominent financial hubs such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, London, Frankfurt, Munich, Tokyo, Hong Kong, São Paulo, Seoul, and Singapore.
History
The firm's beginnings date back to 1866 under the name Anderson, Adams & Young. Following multiple mergers, it adopted the name Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in 1962. Historically, Milbank provided legal services to influential clients including the Rockefeller family and Chase Manhattan Bank, notably managing legal matters related to Rockefeller Center. The firm maintained a presence at One Chase Manhattan Plaza (later renamed 28 Liberty) until 2018.
Between the 1960s and 1980s, Milbank was at the forefront of developing hedge funds and other investment structures for its financial clientele. The firm expanded its international reach throughout the 1990s, paralleling growth in global finance and technology industries. Its worldwide presence encompasses offices in key cities such as London, Frankfurt, São Paulo, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Beijing, alongside domestic locations in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
A significant milestone occurred in 1977 when Milbank became the first American law firm to establish an office under its own name in Tokyo despite regulatory challenges, remaining the only U.S. firm there during the early 1980s.
In 1998, one of Milbank’s partners faced conviction for misconduct associated with bankruptcy cases, which led to the repayment of $1.8 million in fees.
The firm launched a Foreign Legal Consultant Office in Seoul in 2015 to provide counsel on project finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and dispute resolution for both international and Korean clients.
On February 19, 2019, the organization simplified its name from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP to Milbank LLP.
In November 2023, Milbank joined other leading law firms in cautioning top U.S. law schools that antisemitic episodes might influence corporate recruitment decisions.
According to a January 2024 report by The American Lawyer, Milbank recorded a revenue growth of 17.8% reaching $1.514 billion in 2023 and an 18.6% increase in profits per equity partner to $5.114 million — setting a new performance benchmark for the firm.