DLA Piper

DLA Piper is a multinational law firm with offices in over 40 countries, including United States, China, India, and Brazil. The firm was formed in 2005 through a merger between DLA, Piper Rudnick, and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, and has since become one of the largest law firms in the world, with clients such as Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and IBM. DLA Piper has worked on numerous high-profile cases, including the Enron scandal and the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, and has advised on major transactions such as the AT&T acquisition of Time Warner and the Verizon acquisition of Yahoo!. The firm has also been involved in significant pro bono work, including representing Amnesty International and the International Rescue Committee.

● History

DLA Piper's history dates back to the 19th century, when DLA was founded in Leeds, England in 1898. The firm expanded rapidly in the 20th century, merging with several other firms, including Piper & Marbury in 1999, and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich in 2005. The firm has also undergone significant changes in recent years, including the appointment of Simon Levine as managing director in 2015, and the launch of a new artificial intelligence platform in 2020, developed in partnership with IBM Watson and Microsoft Azure. DLA Piper has also been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, including being named one of the best places to work for LGBTQ+ individuals by the Human Rights Campaign.

● Organization

DLA Piper is organized into several practice groups, including corporate law, litigation, and intellectual property law. The firm is led by a global board, which includes representatives from each of the firm's regions, including Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas. DLA Piper has also established a number of industry-focused groups, including a financial services group, which advises clients such as JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, and a technology group, which advises clients such as Google and Facebook. The firm has also partnered with a number of other organizations, including Harvard Law School and the University of Oxford, to provide training and development opportunities for its lawyers.

● Practice Areas

DLA Piper has a broad range of practice areas, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and real estate law. The firm has also established a number of specialized practice groups, including a cybersecurity group, which advises clients such as Cisco Systems and Symantec, and a sustainability group, which advises clients such as Unilever and Patagonia. DLA Piper has worked on numerous high-profile transactions, including the Dell acquisition of EMC and the Microsoft acquisition of LinkedIn, and has advised on significant regulatory matters, including the General Data Protection Regulation and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

● Notable Cases

DLA Piper has worked on numerous notable cases, including the Enron scandal, in which the firm represented Enron Corporation and its board of directors, and the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, in which the firm represented the Lehman Brothers estate. The firm has also advised on significant intellectual property cases, including the Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co. patent dispute, and has represented clients such as The New York Times and The Washington Post in First Amendment cases. DLA Piper has also been involved in significant pro bono work, including representing Amnesty International and the International Rescue Committee in human rights cases.

● Controversies

DLA Piper has been involved in several controversies over the years, including a lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice in 2018, alleging that the firm had failed to properly disclose conflicts of interest in a bankruptcy case. The firm has also faced criticism for its representation of clients such as Tobacco companies and fossil fuel companies, and has been the subject of protests and boycotts by environmental groups such as Greenpeace and the Sierra Club. DLA Piper has also been criticized for its diversity and inclusion record, including being ranked low on the American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard.

● Offices

DLA Piper has offices in over 90 locations around the world, including London, New York City, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. The firm has a significant presence in Europe, with offices in cities such as Paris, Frankfurt, and Milan, and has also established a number of offices in Asia Pacific, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Singapore. DLA Piper has also expanded its presence in the Americas, with offices in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Sao Paulo, and has partnered with a number of other law firms, including Baker McKenzie and Hogan Lovells, to provide a global network of legal services. The firm has also established a number of innovation hubs, including a legal technology hub in Silicon Valley and a financial technology hub in New York City.