Perkins Coie

Perkins Coie
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Name	Perkins Coie LLP
Founded	1912
Founders	William H. Perkins, Pleasant H. Coie
Headquarters	Seattle
Offices	19
Employees	1,400+
Practice areas	Corporate, Litigation, Intellectual Property, Antitrust, Regulatory, Labor and Employment, Real Estate, Environmental
Key people	Daniel J. Satterberg, Brad S. Smith, Kenneth D. DeLaney
Company type	Limited Liability Partnership

Perkins Coie is a multinational law firm founded in 1912 with roots in Seattle and a prominent presence across the United States and internationally. The firm provides legal services in corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory matters for clients ranging from startups to multinational corporations and political committees. Perkins Coie has been involved in high-profile matters touching on technology, finance, entertainment, and public policy, and has earned recognition in major legal rankings and industry awards.

History

Perkins Coie traces its origin to early 20th-century practitioners William H. Perkins and Pleasant H. Coie in Seattle, expanding through the 20th century alongside regional growth tied to Boeing, Washington State, and the Pacific Northwest's commercial development. The firm grew during the postwar era amid transactions involving Safeco, Nordstrom, and energy projects connected to Bonneville Power Administration and resource industries such as Weyerhaeuser. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Perkins Coie expanded nationally through strategic mergers and lateral hires from firms connected to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Latham & Watkins, and Morrison & Foerster, building practices in technology hubs associated with Microsoft, Amazon (company), Google, and Facebook. Perkins Coie's history includes representation in litigation before the United States Supreme Court, participation in transactional matter frameworks shaped by statutes like the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, and counsel roles in regulatory proceedings with agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Practice areas and notable matters

Perkins Coie's corporate practice has advised on mergers and acquisitions for clients including Intel, Oracle Corporation, Adobe Inc., and venture financings linked to Sequoia Capital, Accel Partners, and Kleiner Perkins. The intellectual property group has litigated patent and trademark disputes for technology firms connected to Qualcomm, Cisco Systems, and Nintendo, and has litigated before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. In litigation, the firm has represented parties in securities matters tied to Enron-era reforms and in antitrust cases involving Microsoft and telecommunications incumbents like AT&T. Perkins Coie has provided regulatory counsel in matters involving Federal Communications Commission rulemakings, environmental compliance related to the Clean Air Act and Environmental Protection Agency proceedings, and public finance transactions for municipal issuers associated with cities such as Seattle and Portland, Oregon. The firm’s entertainment and media practice has worked with studios and artists connected to Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., and Netflix, while its privacy and cybersecurity team has advised on breach response and policy issues influenced by laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act and enforcement by the Department of Justice.

Leadership and organization

Perkins Coie operates as a limited liability partnership with firm governance led by a managing partner and an executive committee; recent management has included leaders with backgrounds at firms such as Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and Covington & Burling. The firm organizes practice groups into industry-focused teams (e.g., technology, life sciences, energy) and cross-border desks supporting work involving jurisdictions like China, Japan, and the European Union. Perkins Coie’s pro bono and diversity initiatives have been overseen by committees working with nonprofits and courts including partnerships with American Civil Liberties Union, National Immigration Law Center, and local bar associations such as the King County Bar Association. Leadership alumni have moved into public service roles with agencies including the United States Department of Justice and state offices such as the Washington State Attorney General.

Political activity and lobbying

Perkins Coie has been active in political law, advising political action committees, party committees, and candidates in matters involving the Federal Election Commission and campaign finance rules under the Federal Election Campaign Act. The firm has represented organizations engaged in ballot initiatives and public policy campaigns in states like Arizona, Colorado, and Washington (state), and has provided compliance counsel related to Supreme Court decisions including Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Perkins Coie lawyers have also registered as lobbyists before state legislatures and federal agencies, engaging with regulatory processes involving the Federal Communications Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state public utility commissions. The firm’s political law practice has intersected with high-profile matters involving political figures and organizations linked to Democratic National Committee, Republican National Committee, and independent advocacy groups.

Offices and global presence

Perkins Coie maintains offices across North America and Asia, including locations in cities such as Seattle, Portland, Oregon, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, Denver, Austin, Texas, Beijing, Shanghai, and Tokyo. The firm serves multinational clients with cross-border transactions involving jurisdictions like Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, and entities regulated under European Union law. Its regional offices support industry clusters connected to Silicon Valley, Hollywood, Wall Street, and energy corridors in Houston.

Recognition and rankings

Perkins Coie has been ranked by legal publications such as The American Lawyer, Chambers and Partners, and Legal 500 across categories including litigation, corporate, and intellectual property. The firm has received diversity and pro bono awards from organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and local bar associations, and has been listed in workplace rankings by Vault (company) and The National Law Journal. Individual lawyers have been recognized in directories including Best Lawyers and by bodies such as the American Bar Association and the Federal Communications Bar Association.

Category:Law firms established in 1912 Category:Law firms based in Seattle