White & Case

White & Case

White & Case is a multinational law firm founded in 1901 with headquarters in New York City. The firm operates across continents, advising corporations, financial institutions, governments, and international organizations on cross-border transactions, dispute resolution, and regulatory matters. Known for its global reach and industry-focused practices, the firm has played roles in high-profile matters involving international finance, arbitration, energy, and infrastructure.

History

Founded in 1901, the firm emerged during the Progressive Era when transatlantic trade and diplomatic relations were expanding between the United States and Europe. Early work connected the firm to shipping and banking clients engaging with counterparties in London, Paris, and Hamburg, aligning it with firms involved in the evolution of international commercial law and treaty practice. Over the 20th century the firm advised clients in matters touching the League of Nations era, the post-World War II reconstruction period linked to the Marshall Plan, and later Cold War commercial developments involving markets such as Tokyo, Geneva, and Moscow. During the late 20th and early 21st centuries the firm expanded into emerging markets, opening offices in São Paulo, Johannesburg, Beijing, and Abu Dhabi to participate in transactions associated with the rise of multinational corporations such as General Electric, Siemens, and Petrobras and state actors including the European Investment Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The firm’s history reflects involvement in matters adjacent to events like the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, and various sovereign debt restructurings involving Argentina, Greece, and Ukraine.

Corporate Structure and Offices

The firm is organized as a partnership with a management committee and regional chairs overseeing operations in the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific. Leadership roles have included managing partners and global chairs who engage with institutional counterparts such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the United Nations. The office network spans key financial centers and capitals including New York City, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Rome, São Paulo, Mexico City, Johannesburg, Lagos, Cairo, Riyadh, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Sydney, and Melbourne. The firm’s presence in these cities facilitates work with entities like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Barclays, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group on cross-border mergers and acquisitions and capital markets offerings tied to securities regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Conduct Authority. The firm’s global structure also enables representation in multilateral dispute forums including the International Court of Justice, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, and the London Court of International Arbitration.

Practice Areas and Notable Matters

Practice areas include international arbitration, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, capital markets, project finance, energy and natural resources, antitrust and competition, litigation, tax, and intellectual property. The firm has acted for sovereigns and corporate actors in high-profile matters involving sovereign debt restructurings with Argentina and Greece, project finance for energy projects connected to Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, and Petrobras, and cross-border M&A for corporations such as Sony, Philips, ABB, and Renault. It has represented financial institutions in structured finance and derivatives matters involving Major League Baseball owners and leveraged buyouts tied to private equity firms including Blackstone, KKR, Carlyle Group, and Apollo Global Management. In arbitration, the firm’s cases have engaged tribunals under UNCITRAL rules and ICSID rules with parties including the Republic of Ecuador and the State of Venezuela in disputes over oil and mining concessions. The firm’s capital markets work has supported initial public offerings and bond issuances for technology companies like Alibaba and SoftBank-affiliated entities, and infrastructure financings related to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the African Development Bank.

Pro Bono and Corporate Responsibility

The firm maintains pro bono programs addressing human rights, refugee assistance, anti-corruption initiatives, and access to justice projects in collaboration with organizations such as Amnesty International, the International Rescue Committee, Human Rights Watch, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Pro bono matters have included representation of asylum seekers in cases with connections to the International Criminal Court, counsel for non-governmental organizations in advocacy before the European Court of Human Rights, and support for anti-corruption investigations referencing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act. Corporate responsibility efforts extend to sustainability and climate-related initiatives tied to the UN Global Compact, climate finance projects with the Green Climate Fund, and diversity programs aligned with the 30% Club and the International Bar Association diversity guidelines.

Rankings, Awards and Recognition

The firm has been ranked in global directories and rankings such as Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, and IFLR1000 for work in jurisdictions including New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Singapore. Awards and recognitions have highlighted strengths in international arbitration, project finance, banking and capital markets, and pro bono commitment, with accolades from the American Bar Association and features in publications like The American Lawyer and The Lawyer. The firm’s lawyers have been recognized as leading individuals and practice leaders, attaining listings in Who’s Who Legal and receiving awards from the International Financial Law Review and Global Arbitration Review for notable casework and sector expertise.

Category:Law firms