Boies, Schiller & Flexner
Encyclopedia
Boies, Schiller & Flexner L.L.P.
is a prominent American law firm
founded by David Boies
and Jonathan D. Schiller in 1997. In 1999, they were joined by Donald L. Flexner, former partner with Crowell & Moring
. In March of 2009, a 27-lawyer firm, located in Miami, named Zack Kosnitzky, merged into the New York firm Boies Schiller & Flexner.
The firm was founded in 1997 by then Cravath partner David Boies
. He left Cravath because a major client, Time Warner, the owner of the Atlanta Braves, had objected to his representation of the New York Yankees in a case against Major League Baseball. He was joined by Jonathan Schiller of Kaye Scholer, and Don Flexner, the head of Crowell & Moring’s antitrust practice group. The reputations of the founding attorneys assured that high profile clients would immediately seek them out.
In its very short history, the firm has had a number of major clients, and tried numerous cases that are familiar to law students and even the public at large. One of the firm’s first cases was representing a software manufacturer in an antitrust action when they only had ten attorneys. Most know the case as United States v. Microsoft
. Within a few short years, David Boies and his firm were facing off with veteran litigator Ted Olson in the Supreme Court, in Bush v. Gore
.
The firm has a strong general litigation practice in all areas. Though it has a number of attorneys who are specialists, first and foremost every attorney is an excellent litigator, and the firm is willing to take on a variety of prominent cases, including most notably working alongside previous opponent Ted Olson in challenging California’s Proposition 8 in Perry v. Schwarzenegger
.
On March 12, 2011, The NFL announced that it has hired David Boies and Paul Clement, head of law firm King & Spalding’s appellate practice and the former United States Solicitor General who will work with outside counsel Gregg Levy of Covington & Burling
in representing the league in the antitrust litigation initiated by the players' union.
Getting hired at Boies Schiller, especially as a first year associate, is a monumental task. The firm’s high profile work has meant that they are flooded with applicants. The firm maintains the fourth highest selectivity rating as ranked by Vault. The firm, along with Williams and Connolly and Wachtell is the only major firm to offer above-market salaries, currently at $174,000 for first year associates.
Limited liability partnership
A limited liability partnership is a partnership in which some or all partners have limited liability. It therefore exhibits elements of partnerships and corporations. In an LLP one partner is not responsible or liable for another partner's misconduct or negligence. This is an important...
is a prominent American law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
founded by David Boies
David Boies
David Boies is an American lawyer and chairman of the law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner. He has been involved in various high-profile cases in the United States.-Early life and education:...
and Jonathan D. Schiller in 1997. In 1999, they were joined by Donald L. Flexner, former partner with Crowell & Moring
Crowell & Moring
Crowell & Moring is an international law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Irvine, New York City, Los Angeles, Anchorage, San Francisco, London and Brussels, and around 450 lawyers....
. In March of 2009, a 27-lawyer firm, located in Miami, named Zack Kosnitzky, merged into the New York firm Boies Schiller & Flexner.
The firm was founded in 1997 by then Cravath partner David Boies
David Boies
David Boies is an American lawyer and chairman of the law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner. He has been involved in various high-profile cases in the United States.-Early life and education:...
. He left Cravath because a major client, Time Warner, the owner of the Atlanta Braves, had objected to his representation of the New York Yankees in a case against Major League Baseball. He was joined by Jonathan Schiller of Kaye Scholer, and Don Flexner, the head of Crowell & Moring’s antitrust practice group. The reputations of the founding attorneys assured that high profile clients would immediately seek them out.
In its very short history, the firm has had a number of major clients, and tried numerous cases that are familiar to law students and even the public at large. One of the firm’s first cases was representing a software manufacturer in an antitrust action when they only had ten attorneys. Most know the case as United States v. Microsoft
United States v. Microsoft
United States v. Microsoft was a set of civil actions filed against Microsoft Corporation pursuant to the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 Section 1 and 2 on May 8, 1998 by the United States Department of Justice and 20 U.S. states. Joel I. Klein was the lead prosecutor...
. Within a few short years, David Boies and his firm were facing off with veteran litigator Ted Olson in the Supreme Court, in Bush v. Gore
Bush v. Gore
Bush v. Gore, , is the landmark United States Supreme Court decision on December 12, 2000, that effectively resolved the 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. Only eight days earlier, the United States Supreme Court had unanimously decided the closely related case of Bush v...
.
The firm has a strong general litigation practice in all areas. Though it has a number of attorneys who are specialists, first and foremost every attorney is an excellent litigator, and the firm is willing to take on a variety of prominent cases, including most notably working alongside previous opponent Ted Olson in challenging California’s Proposition 8 in Perry v. Schwarzenegger
Perry v. Schwarzenegger
Perry v. Schwarzenegger is a federal lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California challenging the federal constitutionality of Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative that amended the California Constitution to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples,...
.
On March 12, 2011, The NFL announced that it has hired David Boies and Paul Clement, head of law firm King & Spalding’s appellate practice and the former United States Solicitor General who will work with outside counsel Gregg Levy of Covington & Burling
Covington & Burling
Covington & Burling LLP is an international law firm with offices in Beijing, Brussels, London, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San Diego, and Washington, DC. The firm advises multinational corporations on significant transactional, litigation, regulatory, and public policy matters...
in representing the league in the antitrust litigation initiated by the players' union.
Rankings
In 2010, The American Lawyer's national top 100 firms ranked Boies Schiller fourth in profits per partner, third in revenue per lawyer, and in 2009, the firm was ranked at 89 in gross revenue. Chambers and Partners ranked the firm in band 3 nationwide, band 2 in New York and band 2 in Florida for their antitrust practice.Getting hired at Boies Schiller, especially as a first year associate, is a monumental task. The firm’s high profile work has meant that they are flooded with applicants. The firm maintains the fourth highest selectivity rating as ranked by Vault. The firm, along with Williams and Connolly and Wachtell is the only major firm to offer above-market salaries, currently at $174,000 for first year associates.
Notable Lawyers and Alumni
- David BoiesDavid BoiesDavid Boies is an American lawyer and chairman of the law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner. He has been involved in various high-profile cases in the United States.-Early life and education:...
, Chairman - Jonathan D. Schiller, Managing Partner.
- Donald L. Flexner, Managing Partner.
- Christopher A. Boies, partner, and head of the Firm's Corporate practice.
- George F. Carpinello, partner.
- William S. Ohlemeyer, partner.
- Stuart H. SingerStuart H. SingerStuart H. Singer is an American attorney, the managing partner of the Boies Schiller & Flexner law firm's Fort Lauderdale, Florida office. He specializes in complex business litigation and represents clients such as NASCAR, Carnival Cruise Lines, Florida Power & Light, and Tyco International...
, partner. - Richard A. Feinstein, partner, and recently named Director of the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission.
- Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandKirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Gillibrand is an attorney and the junior United States Senator from the state of New York and a member of the Democratic Party...
, the Junior United States SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
for New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, is a former partnerPartner (business rank)A partner in a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, or financial firm is a highly ranked position. Originally, these businesses were set up as legal partnerships in which the partners were entitled to a share of the profits of the enterprise. The name has remained even though many of these...
. - Stephen Zack, Administrative Partner, President of the American Bar Association, 2010-2011.