Arnold & Porter

Arnold & Porter
Name	Arnold & Porter
Founded	1946
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Offices	global
Num attorneys	~1,000
Practice areas	Litigation; Regulatory; Corporate; Intellectual Property; Antitrust; Environmental; Healthcare; Financial Services

Arnold & Porter is a multinational law firm known for litigation, regulatory, and transactional work across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Founded in 1946, the firm has advised governments, corporations, and non‑profit institutions on matters involving public policy, complex litigation, and international arbitration. The firm’s practitioners have engaged with matters touching landmark statutes, major agencies, and high‑profile disputes.

History

The firm traces its origins to the post‑World War II era when founders worked on issues connected to the Marshall Plan, the United Nations founding era, and early regulatory frameworks such as the Federal Communications Act. In the 1960s and 1970s partners handled matters related to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Clean Air Act amendments, and litigations that reached the Supreme Court of the United States. During the 1980s and 1990s the firm expanded involvement with financial services work connected to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, mergers overseen by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice (United States). In the 21st century the firm participated in cross‑border matters involving the European Union, World Trade Organization, and arbitral forums such as the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

Practice Areas and Notable Work

The firm’s litigation teams have worked on disputes before the Supreme Court of the United States, federal circuit courts, and state supreme courts, as well as international tribunals including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. Its regulatory practices advise on compliance with rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Corporate groups have handled transactions involving entities like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and General Electric, and have advised on deals subject to review under the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Intellectual property litigators have represented clients in patent and trademark matters involving corporations such as Apple Inc., Microsoft, and Pfizer. The firm’s healthcare practice has engaged with issues implicating the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services. Energy and environmental teams have worked on matters connected to projects by ExxonMobil, Chevron, and renewable developers before agencies like the Bureau of Land Management.

Notable Cases and Clients

Arnold & Porter attorneys have represented a range of clients including multinational corporations, sovereign states, non‑governmental organizations, and trade associations. Representative matters have involved disputes with firms such as BP, Walmart, and Facebook; regulatory enforcement matters with agencies like the Federal Communications Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and international arbitration involving states and investors in proceedings before the International Centre for Dispute Resolution. Litigation portfolios have encompassed antitrust suits against firms like Microsoft and AT&T, securities litigation tied to Goldman Sachs transactions, and environmental litigation involving Chevron and Shell. The firm has also advised nonprofits and foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and cultural institutions like the Smithsonian Institution.

Offices and Global Presence

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the firm maintains offices in major legal centers including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, and international locations such as Brussels, London, Frankfurt, Beijing, and Hong Kong. These offices enable coordination on matters implicating the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund, and regional courts such as the European Court of Justice. The firm’s cross‑border practice collaborates with counsel on matters in jurisdictions including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, India, Japan, and across Africa for projects involving multilateral lenders like the World Bank.

People and Leadership

Leadership has included partners who previously served in government roles such as officials from the U.S. Department of Justice, commissioners from the Securities and Exchange Commission, general counsel from the Department of Defense (United States), and counsel to the White House. Alumni include former judges from federal courts, former members of Congress, and academics from institutions such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Georgetown University Law Center. The firm’s bench has featured litigators who argued before the Supreme Court of the United States and practitioners who participated in negotiations at international fora like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Recognition and Rankings

The firm has been ranked in directories and lists produced by publications and organizations such as The American Lawyer, Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, and Vault. Practice groups have received accolades for antitrust, healthcare, environmental, and regulatory work, and individual attorneys have been recognized as leading practitioners by Law360 and peer‑reviewed lists. The firm’s pro bono programs have been acknowledged by organizations including the American Bar Association and public interest groups.

Category:Law firms