Debevoise & Plimpton

Debevoise & Plimpton
Name	Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Founded	1931
Headquarters	New York City
Num attorneys	~750
Key people	Paul Weiss, Sullivan & Cromwell, Cravath, Skadden
Practice areas	See section below

Debevoise & Plimpton is a major international law firm headquartered in New York City known for litigation, corporate, and regulatory work. Founded in 1931 during the interwar period alongside contemporaries such as Sullivan & Cromwell and Cravath, Swaine & Moore, the firm has advised corporations, governments, and institutions on matters spanning mergers, arbitration, and white-collar defense. Its lawyers have participated in high-profile disputes and transactions alongside judges from the United States Supreme Court, politicians from Washington, D.C., and regulators from agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission.

History

The firm originated in 1931 when partners who had worked on matters connected to cases in the New Deal era established a practice in Manhattan. Over decades, it expanded during the post-World War II era with lawyers who had served in the United States Department of Justice, the Office of the Solicitor General, and diplomatic posts linked to the United Nations. During the late 20th century, the firm grew internationally, opening offices in financial centers such as London, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, and handled matters involving multinational corporations like General Electric and Siemens. In the 21st century, partners have been involved in arbitrations under rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, litigation in the Southern District of New York, and regulatory inquiries involving the Federal Reserve and the Department of Justice.

Practice Areas and Services

The firm maintains practices in corporate transactions, advising on mergers and acquisitions for clients including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley; private equity work involving firms such as Blackstone and KKR; and capital markets matters with issuers like Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.. Its litigation and arbitration teams handle disputes before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, the ICC Court of Arbitration, and United States federal courts including the Second Circuit and Southern District of New York. Regulatory and compliance practices engage with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The firm also offers white-collar defense and internal investigation services related to statutes such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and provides counsel on fintech matters involving Silicon Valley Bank-era issues, blockchain projects tied to Ethereum and Bitcoin, and antitrust matters with regulators like the European Commission.

Notable Cases and Clients

Attorneys have represented major financial institutions, corporations, and sovereign entities in landmark matters. The firm acted on matters connected to the restructuring of Lehman Brothers-era assets and advised on cross-border insolvencies similar to cases involving Enron and WorldCom. It represented clients in litigation adjacent to high-profile investigations by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and in multinational arbitrations that referenced awards from tribunals under the New York Convention. Corporate clients have included Microsoft, Amazon (company), ExxonMobil, and Pfizer, while government and sovereign work has involved entities associated with the Republic of Argentina and restructuring negotiations reminiscent of the Greek government-debt crisis. In securities matters, the firm has counseled issuers and underwriters in offerings comparable to those of Tesla, Inc. and Uber Technologies, Inc..

Firm Structure and Offices

Organized as a limited liability partnership, the firm employs partners, counsel, and associates who have clerked for jurists on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Its global footprint includes offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., London, Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Shanghai. The firm’s leadership has interacted with institutions such as the American Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and national bar associations in jurisdictions including England and Wales and Japan. Recruiting emphasizes candidates from law schools such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, Columbia Law School, and Stanford Law School.

Pro Bono, Diversity, and Community Engagement

The firm maintains pro bono programs representing clients before tribunals and agencies including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement adjudications and seeking asylum cases reflective of matters handled at the Executive Office for Immigration Review. It partners with nonprofits such as Legal Aid Society, Human Rights Watch, and local clinics at universities like New York University School of Law to provide representation on civil rights and constitutional claims invoking precedents from the Civil Rights Act litigation tradition. Diversity initiatives aim to increase representation among alumni of institutions like Morehouse College and Spelman College and engage with organizations such as the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and the National LGBT Bar Association.

Awards and Recognition

The firm has been recognized by legal directories and ranking entities such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, and Vault for practices in litigation, corporate governance, and arbitration. Individual lawyers have been listed in publications like Super Lawyers and have received appointments to panels convened by the American Arbitration Association and advisory roles with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm’s transactions have been featured in year-end deals lists compiled by The Wall Street Journal and recognitions from trade groups such as the International Financial Law Review.

Category:Law firms based in New York City