Davis Polk & Wardwell

Davis Polk & Wardwell
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Name	Davis Polk & Wardwell
Founded	1849
Headquarters	New York City
Num offices	10+
Num attorneys	900+
Practice areas	Corporate law; Litigation; Finance; Mergers and acquisitions; Securities

Davis Polk & Wardwell

Davis Polk & Wardwell is a prominent New York City law firm known for transactional work and regulatory practice. Founded in the mid-19th century, the firm has represented major corporations, financial institutions, and governments in matters spanning mergers, securities, litigation, and regulatory compliance. Its alumni include prominent judges, government officials, and corporate leaders who have influenced law and policy in the United States and internationally.

History

The firm traces roots to mid-19th century New York legal practice with partners who engaged with institutions such as New York Stock Exchange, Woolworth Company, and early railroad enterprises like New York Central Railroad. In the early 20th century partners were involved in matters touching Federal Reserve System formation debates and representation of leading financiers tied to J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller. During the New Deal era the firm navigated statutes including the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, counseling clients in reorganizations related to the Great Depression. Post-World War II expansion coincided with the rise of international finance and the firm worked on cross-border matters involving entities such as International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and multinational corporations like General Electric and International Business Machines. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the firm advised on major mergers involving companies such as AT&T, Citigroup, ExxonMobil, and transactions in capital markets tied to listings on New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. The firm’s evolution reflects shifts in regulatory frameworks including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and international treaty environments such as North American Free Trade Agreement.

Practice Areas and Notable Work

The firm’s practice areas encompass corporate transactions, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation, banking and finance, corporate litigation, tax, antitrust, and restructuring. In corporate finance the firm has represented issuers, underwriters, and financial advisors in offerings tied to Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America. In merger counsel roles the firm has worked on deals involving Pfizer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Its securities teams have handled investigations involving regulators such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and litigation in forums including the United States Supreme Court and various federal appellate courts like the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The firm’s banking practice routinely interfaces with international banks such as HSBC, Barclays, and Deutsche Bank on syndicated loans and leveraged finance. In restructuring and bankruptcy the firm has represented creditors and debtors in chapters under the United States Bankruptcy Code with cases involving major retailers and energy companies. The tax group has advised on cross-border structures implicating treaties between the United States and jurisdictions like United Kingdom, Luxembourg, and Ireland.

Notable Cases and Clients

Clients have included multinational corporations, financial institutions, sovereign entities, and private equity sponsors. Representative matters include advising underwriters on initial public offerings for technology companies tied to Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet-affiliated ventures, counsel to banks in litigation alongside parties such as Salomon Brothers, and representation of corporate boards in takeover defenses against bidders like Carl Icahn and Munger, Tolles & Olson-advised transactions. The firm has acted for sovereign clients in restructurings connected to countries represented at the International Monetary Fund and Inter-American Development Bank processes. In enforcement and white-collar matters its clients have negotiated with the U.S. Department of Justice and engaged in parallel proceedings before state authorities including the New York Attorney General.

Office Locations and Global Presence

Headquartered in New York City, the firm maintains offices in major financial centers, reflecting a footprint in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Key offices include locations in Washington, D.C., where regulatory and policy work intersects with federal agencies such as the Federal Reserve Board; London, offering access to the City of London and UK regulators; and Hong Kong and Tokyo to serve clients in Greater China and Japan. Other offices historically include hubs in San Francisco, Paris, and São Paulo supporting technology, European finance, and Latin American markets respectively. The firm’s global presence enables coordination on cross-border mergers, capital markets offerings, and multijurisdictional litigation involving courts such as the High Court of Justice and arbitral tribunals under rules of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Culture, Diversity, and Pro Bono

The firm publishes reports and initiatives addressing diversity and workplace culture, engaging with advocacy organizations including Human Rights Campaign, law school affinity groups like Harvard Law School and Yale Law School, and nonprofit partners such as Legal Aid Society. Pro bono matters have included representation in civil rights litigation, asylum cases before immigration courts, and public interest projects with entities such as American Civil Liberties Union and Southern Poverty Law Center. Internally, the firm supports mentorship programs tied to bar associations such as the New York State Bar Association and participates in recruitment at institutions like Columbia Law School and New York University School of Law.

Notable Alumni and Leadership

Alumni and former partners have assumed roles across the judiciary, government, and corporate leadership. Noteworthy figures include judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, officials in administrations connected to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Department of Justice, and corporate officers at banks like Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase. Former leaders have taught at law schools including Harvard Law School and Columbia Law School and served on boards of institutions such as the Brookings Institution and Council on Foreign Relations.

Category:Law firms based in New York City