Boies, Schiller & Flexner

Boies, Schiller & Flexner is a United States litigation-focused law firm founded in 1997 by prominent litigators. The firm became widely known for high-profile matters involving corporations, celebrities, and governments and for engaging in complex antitrust and intellectual property disputes. Its lawyers have appeared before federal and state courts, as well as tribunals and regulatory bodies.

History

The firm was founded in 1997 by David Boies, Jonathan D. Schiller, and William G. Flexner after departures from established firms associated with cases linked to United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and high-stakes litigation involving parties such as Microsoft Corporation and National Football League. Early growth included recruitment of litigators from firms tied to matters like United States v. Microsoft and corporate representations related to American Airlines and Enron. Through the 2000s and 2010s the firm expanded offices and practice groups, engaging with institutions including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and international arbitral venues such as the International Court of Arbitration.

Notable Cases and Litigation

The firm is associated with numerous headline matters. Partners litigated against Microsoft Corporation in high-profile antitrust litigation and represented plaintiffs in disputes involving IBM, General Motors, and AT&T. The firm represented parties in intellectual property matters against technology companies like Google, Apple Inc., and Amazon (company), and in media disputes involving The New York Times, The Washington Post, and entertainment figures connected to Hollywood studios. It acted in litigation related to corporate scandals involving WorldCom, Enron, and shareholder suits connected to Goldman Sachs. The firm has represented governments and sovereigns in arbitration alongside entities tied to International Monetary Fund programs, and has appeared in cases before the United States Supreme Court and state supreme courts. Individual partners have handled employment and defamation matters for figures associated with Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, and litigation touching celebrities like Martha Stewart and Tiger Woods.

Firm Structure and Leadership

Leadership has been prominently associated with founders including David Boies and Jonathan D. Schiller, who previously worked on cases involving entities such as Republican National Committee-adjacent litigation and matters intersecting with the Democratic National Committee. The firm operates as a partnership with practice group heads overseeing work in areas linked to Securities and Exchange Commission investigations, Federal Trade Commission enforcement, and cross-border disputes involving institutions such as the World Bank and European Commission. The firm’s offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., and other cities coordinate representations for corporate clients including ExxonMobil, Pfizer, and multinational financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase. Governance has included executive committees and chairs whose prior careers involved clerkships for judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and counsel roles in high-profile matters before the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Practice Areas

Practice areas emphasize litigation and trial work, encompassing antitrust litigation against technology platforms such as Google and Facebook and intellectual property disputes involving firms like Oracle Corporation and Sony Corporation. The firm handles securities litigation tied to issuers like Citigroup and Morgan Stanley, as well as complex commercial litigation for manufacturers like Boeing and Ford Motor Company. It represents clients in white-collar defense connected to matters before the Department of Justice and in regulatory proceedings involving Federal Communications Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission actions. The firm also undertakes arbitration and international dispute work involving parties such as sovereigns and multinational corporations before venues like the International Chamber of Commerce.

Controversies and Criticism

The firm has faced criticism tied to conflict-of-interest allegations and representation choices that intersected with high-profile figures and institutions such as Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, and parties in politically sensitive disputes involving the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee. Media coverage and commentary from outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post scrutinized the firm’s billing practices and engagement in politically charged litigation. Some critics referenced ethical inquiries linked to representations in matters involving major financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase and regulatory scrutiny from agencies like the New York State Attorney General and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm has maintained that internal controls and professional responsibilities guide conflicts and client selection, while former and current partners have at times testified in proceedings before bodies such as the United States Congress and state judicial disciplinary panels.

Category:Law firms