The Partners (book)
| Industry | Law firm |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 1998 |
The Partners: Inside America's Most Powerful Law Firms (1983) is a factual work authored by James B. Stewart, the result of an extensive two-year inquiry into the dominance of premier American law firms. The book explores several pivotal legal cases involving these elite firms and had reached its fifth edition by 2008.
Contents
- Part One. Iran — Shearman & Sterling, Davis Polk & Wardwell
- Part Two. IBM — Cravath, Swaine & Moore
- Part Three. Genentech — Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro
- Part Four. Westinghouse — Kirkland & Ellis
- Part Five. Chrysler — Debevoise, Plimpton, Lyons & Gates
- Part Six. Kennecott — Sullivan & Cromwell
- Part Seven. Rockefeller — Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy
- Part Eight. Kodak — Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine
History
The New York Times drew attention to the book's detailed account of prominent 1980s legal firm engagements, notably the management of Nelson Rockefeller's estate by Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, which sparked public debate concerning Megan Marshack's involvement.
In a 2023 commentary, The Economist observed that the majority of the firms profiled continue to hold significant sway within Wall Street’s legal landscape. Noteworthy examples such as Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Sullivan & Cromwell, and Kirkland & Ellis remain active and prosperous. Conversely, some firms have either ceased operations or merged; for instance, Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine closed its doors in 1998, while Shearman & Sterling entered into a merger with a UK-based firm.