Kaye Scholer

Kaye Scholer
Name	Kaye Scholer LLP
Founded	1917
Founders	Jacob Kaye; Benjamin Scholer
Headquarters	New York City
Practice areas	Antitrust; Litigation; Corporate; Intellectual Property; Tax; Real Estate; Labor and Employment
Key people	(see Notable Partners and Alumni)
Date founded	1917
Num offices	(see Offices and Global Presence)

Kaye Scholer

Kaye Scholer was an international law firm founded in 1917 in New York City by Jacob Kaye and Benjamin Scholer. Over decades the firm developed practices in antitrust, securities, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and complex litigation, representing corporations, financial institutions and cultural institutions. The firm became known for high‑profile transactions, responses to regulatory developments such as the Securities Act of 1933 and Taft-Hartley Act, and its eventual combination with another major firm during the 21st century.

History and Founding

Kaye Scholer was established in 1917 in Manhattan by Jacob Kaye and Benjamin Scholer amid the post‑World War I expansion of finance in Wall Street and the growth of corporate law practice in New York City. In the 1920s and 1930s the firm expanded alongside clients in investment banking, aligning with companies tied to J.P. Morgan & Co. and regional manufacturing concerns. During the New Deal and the enactment of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the firm advised on securities matters and regulatory compliance for clients tied to exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange. Mid‑century growth saw Kaye Scholer advising on mergers and antitrust issues in contexts involving firms with relationships to General Motors and United States Steel Corporation. In the late 20th century the firm established practices addressing emerging issues in intellectual property as technologies advanced alongside companies such as IBM and constituents of Silicon Valley.

Practice Areas and Notable Cases

Kaye Scholer maintained full‑service offerings including antitrust, corporate finance, securities, litigation, intellectual property, tax, real estate, and labor and employment. The firm represented parties in mergers involving major corporate actors and defended clients in high‑stakes litigation matters before the United States Supreme Court and federal appellate courts such as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Notable engagements included representation in merger negotiations and antitrust reviews involving multinational corporations connected to AT&T, Pfizer, and Procter & Gamble, and IP litigation with parties related to Microsoft, Intel, and entertainment companies linked to Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures. The firm also acted in significant securities offerings and private placements involving firms like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, and in restructuring matters concerning entities with ties to Lehman Brothers and other financial institutions.

Offices and Global Presence

Originally centered in New York City, Kaye Scholer expanded domestically and internationally with offices in major financial and commercial centers including Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco. International expansion included offices in London, Frankfurt, Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong to serve clients engaged in cross‑border transactions with ties to European Union markets, People's Republic of China trade, and Asia-Pacific investment flows. The firm’s global footprint positioned it to advise multinational clients on transatlantic mergers involving firms in Germany and cross‑border IP enforcement involving entities in Japan and South Korea.

Notable Partners and Alumni

Kaye Scholer’s roster included partners and alumni who held prominent positions in law, government, finance, and academia. Alumni moved into roles at institutions such as the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Reserve System. Former partners joined corporate boards of major companies like Citigroup and ExxonMobil, and others transitioned to law faculties at institutions such as Columbia Law School and Harvard Law School. The firm also counted practitioners who later joined major firms and law reform bodies connected to entities like the American Bar Association and state bar associations.

Firm Culture and Pro Bono Work

Kaye Scholer emphasized collegial practice, cross‑disciplinary teams and client‑focused advice tailored to clients in sectors including pharmaceuticals, media conglomerates, telecommunications, and financial services. The firm maintained pro bono commitments supporting civil rights litigation before courts including the Supreme Court of the United States, immigration and asylum matters tied to United Nations refugee issues, and nonprofit representation for cultural institutions such as museums and performing arts organizations associated with Lincoln Center and other cultural centers. The firm participated in community partnerships with legal aid groups and bar association initiatives focused on access to justice.

Mergers and Legacy (including Orrick Merger)

Kaye Scholer pursued strategic combinations as the global legal market consolidated in the 21st century. In 2016 the firm announced a merger with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP forming an enlarged practice platform intended to compete with major international firms. That transaction reflected broader trends affecting firms like DLA Piper, Baker McKenzie, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as they expanded cross‑border capabilities. The merger integrated Kaye Scholer’s practices with Orrick’s strengths in technology law, energy law and capital markets, influencing subsequent market positioning and alumni placements across leading firms and institutions such as Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance. The legacy of Kaye Scholer continues through continued client relationships, precedent‑setting matters, and alumni leadership across legal, corporate, and public sectors.

Category:Law firms established in 1917 Category:Defunct law firms of the United States