White & Case
| Company type | Limited liability partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Legal services |
| Founded | May 1, 1901 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Justin DuPratt White, George B. Case |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Hugh Verrier (chairman) |
| Website | www |
White & Case LLP is an internationally recognized white-shoe law firm based in New York City. Established in 1901, the firm currently maintains 46 offices spread over 31 countries.[1]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
History
The firm was founded on May 1, 1901, by Wall Street attorneys Justin DuPratt White and George B. Case, each contributing $250 to launch the practice.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name White was an alumnus of Cornell Law School, while Case studied at Yale University and Columbia Law School. Their early clientele included Bankers Trust Company, a relationship facilitated through banker Henry P. Davison.[2]
During James Hurlock’s tenure as chairman from 1980 to 2000, the firm’s lawyer headcount tripled alongside significant international expansion.[2] In 1994, White & Case became one of the pioneering U.S. law firms to establish offices in Vietnam, representing clients such as PetroVietnam and the Vietnamese State Bank.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
When Duane Wall assumed chairmanship in 2000, he concentrated efforts on New York’s financial services sector and managed a merger with German firm Feddersen Laule Ewerwahn Scherzberg Finkelnburg Clemm, elevating White & Case into Germany’s top ten law firms.[3]
Hugh Verrier succeeded as chairman in 2007 and commissioned McKinsey & Company to conduct a comprehensive review of the firm’s global operations.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 2010, the firm inaugurated a worldwide pro bono initiative emphasizing access to justice, rule of law advancement, and support for prominent NGOs.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name This commitment earned recognition from Law360 in 2012.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
White & Case’s antitrust practice was ranked within the top five Global Elite by Global Competition Review in 2020.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
The international arbitration team has consistently been ranked number one globally by Global Arbitration Review from 2015 through 2019 and again in 2021,[4] maintaining the largest portfolio valuation and boasting the highest count of market-leading practitioners through 2022. It regularly appears at the forefront of major legal directories and was designated a top four Global Elite practice by Chambers in 2024.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In June 2020, White & Case bolstered its expertise in special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) by hiring four specialists from Winston & Strawn: Joel Rubinstein, Jonathan Rochwarger, Elliott Smith, and Daniel Nussen.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Noriega controversy
In 1981, White & Case registered with the U.S. Government as a foreign agent representing the Panamanian government during the dictatorship of Manuel Noriega, who was associated with international cocaine trafficking networks. This affiliation became a contentious issue during Rudy Giuliani’s 1989 mayoral campaign in New York City. Giuliani joined the firm that same year and asserted he was unaware of its engagements with Panama.[5][6]
Pro bono work
The firm took part in a New York City initiative offering pro bono legal assistance to battered women seeking divorces.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name</ref> In 2020, partner Dana Foster began representing sixteen predominantly Black defendants convicted under Louisiana’s non-unanimous jury laws—so-called "Jim Crow" laws—that were declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court that year.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name</ref>
Distinguished attorneys and alumni
- Andy Beshear – Governor of Kentucky
- Steven Beshear – Former Governor of Kentucky
- Ana Birchall – Politician from Romania
- Roger Blough – Ex-chairman of U.S. Steel
- Raoul G. Cantero III – Former Justice on the Florida Supreme Court
- Malik R. Dahlan – International legal expert and academic
- Tony Garza – Lawyer based in the United States
- Rudolph Giuliani – Former Mayor of New York City and advisor to President Donald Trump
- Richard J. Holwell – Ex-United States district judge for the Southern District of New York
- Louis Hsieh – Chief Financial Officer at Nio, a Chinese company specializing in electric and autonomous vehicles
- Irving S. Olds – American legal professional
- Stephen M. Schwebel – Judge from the United States
- Justin DuPratt White – Co-founder of the law firm White & Case
- Lauren Woodland – Attorney and actress
See also
- List of largest U.S.-based law firms by profits per partner
- List of largest U.S.-based law firms by number of employees
External links
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