Nixon Peabody
| Company type | Limited liability partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Legal services |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
Area served | United States, international offices in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai |
Key people | Stephen Zubiago (CEO and managing partner), Andrew Glincher (senior chairman) |
| Products | Legal services |
Number of employees | 1728+ |
Nixon Peabody LLP is a law firm headquartered in Boston, employing more than 700 lawyers who practice across key legal sectors within the United States and maintain international offices in London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Alongside its Boston base, the firm operates in multiple U.S. cities, including New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Albany, Buffalo, Manchester, Rochester, and Providence.
The firm's clientele spans emerging businesses and middle-market companies to national and global corporations, financial institutions, governmental bodies, educational entities, and nonprofit organizations. Prominent clients include JetBlue, Constellation Brands, Corning Incorporated, and Gannett Co. Additionally, Nixon Peabody has played a role in financing new stadiums for both the Mets and Yankees. The firm organizes nearly thirty specialized teams dedicated to particular industries or legal disciplines.
Since February 2021, Stephen Zubiago has held the position of CEO and managing partner. Andrew Glincher serves as the senior chairman of the firm.
History
Nixon Peabody LLP was established in 1999 through the merger of Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle LLP with Peabody & Brown. Nixon Hargrave began in Rochester, New York, eventually becoming one of the largest law firms in that state.
In 2000, the firm expanded its intellectual property capabilities by merging with Sixbey Friedman Leedom & Ferguson based in Northern Virginia. The following year, it entered the California market by joining forces with Lillick & Charles from San Francisco, a firm with a well-established client base across Asia and Europe.
The 2002 combination with Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar of Boston brought an additional fifty attorneys specializing in business law, litigation, and health services.
By 2008, Nixon Peabody had grown to employ 1,728 individuals across the United States and two overseas offices. The firm emphasized workforce diversity with women making up 59% and minorities comprising 19% of employees. It also offered domestic partner benefits inclusive of same-sex couples.
Amidst the legal industry downturn in 2008, Nixon Peabody aimed to double its size within three to four years by recruiting up to 100 attorneys from the dissolving Thelen LLP and expanding its Paris office by adding 25 lawyers.
In April 2014, to enhance operational efficiency through streamlined administration and centralized legal support services, the firm eliminated 38 positions.
February 2015 marked a merger with Chicago-based Ungaretti & Harris LLP, which increased the firm's headcount by approximately 100 attorneys and broadened expertise in corporate law, healthcare, real estate, litigation, public finance, intellectual property, and government affairs.
In October 2015, Nixon Peabody merged its operations in Hong Kong with CWL Partners—an alliance dating back to 2010—creating Nixon Peabody CWL in Hong Kong while preserving the Nixon Peabody LLP brand elsewhere. This move expanded its Asian footprint by adding around 30 lawyers and staff members.
Pro bono
In 2011, attorneys at Nixon Peabody averaged 56 hours dedicated to pro bono work annually, representing about 3.7% of their billable hours; collectively contributing a total of 37,539 pro bono hours. The firm sets an annual target of at least 3% of billable hours devoted to pro bono efforts.
The firm provides legal assistance to a diverse range of pro bono clients including microfinance programs, veterans’ affairs cases, asylum seekers and immigrants, domestic violence survivors, as well as various legal aid organizations. In Albany specifically, the office collaborates with General Electric's Global Research division on community-oriented pro bono initiatives.
In 2009, the Manchester office established the Nixon Peabody Domestic Protection Team aimed at supporting victims of domestic violence. In 2012, partners co-authored an amicus brief on behalf of the New York State Bar Association for Fisher v. University of Texas advocating for diversity enhancement within legal education pipelines starting at the undergraduate level.
Firm attorneys have also engaged in mentoring students through a YMCA program called Championing Our Students based in Providence, Rhode Island.
Up to 60 hours of pro bono service are credited toward achieving the firm's bonus goal of 1,900 hours. A designated pro bono partner oversees these initiatives firmwide supported by committees at each location that actively share opportunities. Associates report involvement in varied cases such as obtaining domestic violence restraining orders, defending drug conspiracy trials, representing child trafficking victims and advocating for veterans’ benefits.
Litigation
Chambers emphasizes Nixon Peabody's expertise in commercial and intellectual property disputes, product liability cases, government probes, white-collar criminal defense, representation of arts and cultural organizations, as well as Indian law and gaming matters. The Washington, D.C. office is particularly recognized for managing substantial cases before the Court of Federal Claims.
Culture
Although the overall atmosphere within the firm is generally regarded in a positive light, some junior attorneys have expressed concerns regarding a lack of openness between leadership and associate-level staff.
Offices
Nixon Peabody maintains 13 locations across the United States alongside three international offices situated in London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. The firm provides a broad spectrum of legal services, with multiple practice areas receiving regional accolades from Chambers USA.