Sidley Austin

Sidley Austin is a prominent international law firm with a rich history dating back to 1866, founded by Norman Williams and John Leverett Thompson. The firm has grown to become one of the largest and most respected law firms in the world, with a strong presence in New York City, London, Beijing, and Tokyo. Sidley Austin has a long history of advising clients on complex Mergers and acquisitions transactions, including the Time Warner and AOL merger, and has represented clients in high-profile cases before the United States Supreme Court, such as Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade. The firm has also advised clients on significant Initial public offerings, including the Google and Facebook IPOs, and has worked with major corporations like Microsoft, Apple, and Johnson & Johnson.

● History

The history of Sidley Austin dates back to 1866, when it was founded by Norman Williams and John Leverett Thompson in Chicago. The firm quickly grew and became known for its expertise in Railroad law, representing clients such as the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. In the early 20th century, the firm expanded its practice to include Corporate law and Securities law, advising clients on significant transactions such as the Ford Motor Company IPO and the General Motors restructuring. The firm has also been involved in significant Antitrust law cases, including the Standard Oil and American Tobacco cases, and has worked with notable lawyers like Louis Brandeis and Harlan F. Stone. Sidley Austin has also advised clients on major Bankruptcy law cases, including the Enron and WorldCom bankruptcies, and has represented clients in high-profile cases before the International Court of Justice, such as the Nicaragua v. United States case.

● Practice

Sidley Austin has a diverse practice that includes Corporate law, Securities law, Mergers and acquisitions, Antitrust law, Intellectual property law, and Litigation. The firm has a strong reputation for its expertise in Financial institutions and Financial services law, advising clients such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. Sidley Austin has also been involved in significant Healthcare law cases, including the Affordable Care Act and the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and has worked with major healthcare companies like Pfizer, Merck & Co., and UnitedHealth Group. The firm has a strong presence in the Technology law sector, advising clients such as Amazon, IBM, and Cisco Systems, and has been involved in significant Cybersecurity cases, including the Equifax and Yahoo! data breaches. Sidley Austin has also advised clients on major Environmental law cases, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and has worked with notable environmental organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

● Offices

Sidley Austin has 20 offices located in major cities around the world, including Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, London, Beijing, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. The firm's offices are located in prominent buildings such as the Willis Tower in Chicago and the Times Square Tower in New York City. Sidley Austin has a strong presence in the Asia-Pacific region, with offices in Shanghai, Seoul, and Sydney, and has advised clients on significant transactions in the region, including the Alibaba Group IPO and the Tencent Holdings acquisition of Supercell. The firm has also expanded its presence in the Middle East and Africa, with offices in Dubai and Johannesburg, and has advised clients on major transactions in the region, including the Saudi Aramco IPO and the Naspers acquisition of OLX.

● Notable Cases

Sidley Austin has been involved in many notable cases throughout its history, including the Brown v. Board of Education case, which led to the desegregation of public schools in the United States. The firm has also represented clients in high-profile cases before the United States Supreme Court, such as Roe v. Wade and Citizens United v. FEC. Sidley Austin has been involved in significant Antitrust law cases, including the Microsoft antitrust case and the AT&T and Time Warner merger. The firm has also advised clients on major Bankruptcy law cases, including the Enron and WorldCom bankruptcies, and has represented clients in high-profile cases before the International Court of Justice, such as the Nicaragua v. United States case. Sidley Austin has also been involved in significant Intellectual property law cases, including the Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co. case and the Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc. case.

● Notable Lawyers

Sidley Austin has a long history of attracting and retaining top talent, including notable lawyers such as Carter Phillips, Thomas A. Cole, and James R. Asperger. The firm has also been home to many prominent lawyers who have gone on to serve in government and judicial positions, including Harlan F. Stone, who served as the Chief Justice of the United States, and Louis Brandeis, who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Sidley Austin has also been a launching pad for the careers of many successful lawyers, including Sandra Day O'Connor, who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and David Souter, who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. The firm has also employed notable lawyers like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and Stephen Breyer, who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

● Awards and Recognition

Sidley Austin has received numerous awards and recognition for its work, including being named one of the top law firms in the world by Chambers and Partners and The American Lawyer. The firm has also been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, including being named one of the best law firms for women and minorities by Working Mother and DiversityInc. Sidley Austin has also been recognized for its pro bono work, including being named one of the top law firms for pro bono work by The American Lawyer and The National Law Journal. The firm has also received awards for its expertise in specific areas of law, including Mergers and acquisitions, Antitrust law, and Intellectual property law, from publications such as The Deal and Intellectual Property Magazine. Sidley Austin has also been recognized for its commitment to Corporate social responsibility, including being named one of the most community-minded law firms by The National Law Journal and The American Lawyer.