Cleary Gottlieb

Cleary Gottlieb
Name	Cleary Gottlieb
Founded	1946
Founders	Adolf A. Berle?
Headquarters	New York City
Num offices	16
Num attorneys	~1,200
Practice areas	International law; Corporate law; Litigation; Finance

Cleary Gottlieb

Cleary Gottlieb is an international law firm headquartered in New York City known for cross-border transactions, sovereign debt work, and complex litigation. The firm built a reputation through representation in major matters involving United Nations member states, multinational corporations such as ExxonMobil, financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, and major restructurings tied to entities like Argentina and Greece. Its lawyers frequently appear before tribunals and courts connected to International Court of Justice, European Court of Human Rights, and ad hoc arbitration panels under International Chamber of Commerce and ICSID rules.

History

Founded in 1946, the firm emerged amid post-World War II reconstruction and the rise of international institutions such as the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. Early work intersected with matters involving figures like John F. Kennedy era economic diplomacy and multilateral finance tied to World Bank projects. Throughout the Cold War, the firm advised clients on transactions linked to regions affected by events such as the Suez Crisis and the Berlin Airlift. In the 1980s and 1990s, its growth tracked globalization trends exemplified by mergers involving IBM, cross-border capital markets transactions associated with Eurobond issuance, and privatizations following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The firm's evolution continued into the 21st century with notable engagements during international financial crises tied to Argentine debt crisis restructurings, sovereign liability cases involving Iraq and Libya, and regulatory developments following the 2008 financial crisis.

Practice Areas and Notable Work

Cleary Gottlieb's practice spans transactional and contentious work, including corporate mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, antitrust, finance, restructuring, international arbitration, and litigation. In capital markets and M&A, the firm has advised on high-profile deals involving companies such as Microsoft, AT&T, and Unilever, and on securities offerings linked to Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange listings. In finance and banking, the firm represents lenders and issuers in matters tied to institutions such as Deutsche Bank and Citigroup, and in structured finance transactions influenced by legislation like the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The firm is prominent in sovereign and sovereign-debt restructurings, having worked on restructurings involving Argentina, Greece, and other states negotiating with creditors including hedge funds like Elliott Management.

In litigation and arbitration, Cleary Gottlieb lawyers have appeared in disputes before bodies such as the Supreme Court of the United States, European Commission competition proceedings, and investor-state arbitrations under ICSID. Antitrust and competition work has intersected with regulators like the Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission in matters involving multinationals such as Google, Apple Inc., and Facebook (now Meta Platforms). The firm has also advised on compliance and investigations involving statutes and frameworks such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and sanctions regimes administered by Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Offices and Global Presence

The firm maintains a network of offices across financial, commercial, and regulatory centers. Its presence includes offices in cities such as New York City, London, Paris, Brussels, Rome, Madrid, Frankfurt, Milan, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Istanbul, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Washington, D.C.. This global footprint enables coordination on cross-border matters involving institutions like the International Monetary Fund and regional authorities including the European Central Bank and national regulators in jurisdictions such as Germany and Japan. The firm’s offices often collaborate on multi-jurisdictional mandates tied to trade agreements and disputes involving entities that engage with organizations such as the World Trade Organization.

Firm Structure and Lawyers

Cleary Gottlieb operates as a general partnership with a leadership structure led by a managing partner and elected governing committees, drawing on partners who trained at institutions like Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, Columbia Law School, and Stanford Law School. Its lawyer ranks include former government officials, in-house counsel from firms such as General Electric and Ford Motor Company, and alumni of courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the International Court of Justice. The firm emphasizes cross-border teams combining specialists in areas such as antitrust litigation, securities regulation, and bankruptcy restructuring to serve multinational clients and state actors.

Pro bono and Diversity Initiatives

The firm maintains pro bono programs partnering with organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and national legal aid societies to handle matters ranging from human rights claims to refugee and asylum work involving agencies such as UNHCR. Diversity and inclusion initiatives at the firm involve recruitment and retention efforts engaging law schools including New York University School of Law and programs promoting advancement of lawyers from underrepresented groups, and participation in industry networks such as the Minority Corporate Counsel Association.

Recognition and Rankings

Cleary Gottlieb is routinely ranked by legal directories and publications including Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, and The American Lawyer for its practices in international arbitration, capital markets, and M&A. The firm’s lawyers have received individual recognitions such as listings in Chambers USA and Who's Who Legal, and the firm has appeared in league tables for cross-border deals reported by sources like Refinitiv and Bloomberg. Category:Law firms