Goodwin Procter
Encyclopedia
Goodwin Procter LLP is a prominent law firm
based in the United States
, consisting of 850 attorneys serving clients in Boston
, Hong Kong
, London
, Los Angeles
, New York City
, Silicon Valley
, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
. The firm’s core areas of practice are corporate
, litigation and real estate
, with specialized areas of focus that include financial services, private equity
, leveraged finance, technology, REITs and real estate capital markets, intellectual property
and products liability.
in Boston
, with the partners undertaking a general practice of law.
In the winter of 1912, Robert Goodwin with Att. Amos Taylor
represented Marjorie Newell Robb
against Oceanic Steam Navigation Company for the sum of $110,400.00 together with costs from April 15th, 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic. The loss of the life of her husband for the sum of $110,000.00, and the loss of the luggage and personal effect in the sum of $400.00.
In 1913, with business booming, the first associate
was hired by the firm: Harris H. Gilman – a Harvard Law School
graduate – who signed on at $15 a week.
A year later, Joe Procter was approached by his friend and former classmate Arthur Ballantine, who inquired whether Joe’s previous offer to join the firm still stood. It did, and two years after the firm’s founding, the to-be name partner of New York-based Dewey Ballantine
joined the firm. For four years it operated as Goodwin, Procter & Ballantine.
World War I
began unfolding, and by 1916 the war was directly affecting the firm. Goodwin accepted a commission into the Massachusetts National Guard
, and Arthur Ballantine was called up and asked to serve in the Bureau of Internal Revenue
’s Legal Department in Washington, D.C.
By 1917, only Procter and two associates remained to handle business. Samuel Hoar V was one of two litigators hired to help out. Six months later he too was called up for service. It wouldn’t be until 1919 that everyone would rejoin the firm. Soon after, Ballantine departed and Fred Field, a well-respected tax lawyer who was a friend of Procter’s and a colleague of Ballantine’s at the Revenue Bureau, signed on, and the firm was then known as Goodwin, Procter, Field & Hoar.
In early 1929, Fred Tarbell Field was appointed a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts (and would later become its Chief Justice), and the firm was renamed Goodwin, Procter & Hoar – a name it would retain for the next 72 years.
In 2004, the firm merged with the Washington, D.C.
-based litigation and regulatory mid-sized firm Shea & Gardner
. The following year over 60 attorneys from Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault
joined Goodwin Procter as Testa Hurwitz dissolved. More recently, Goodwin Procter added a number of lawyers from Heller Ehrman
.
Goodwin Procter first established its West Coast presence in 2006, opening offices in Los Angeles
(Century City) and San Francisco. It expanded in 2007 with a second office in Downtown L.A. and San Diego, and launched its Silicon Valley
presence later that year. By 2009, the firm had 100 attorneys in its California offices.
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...
based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, consisting of 850 attorneys serving clients in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. The firm’s core areas of practice are corporate
Corporations law
Companies law is the field of law concerning companies and other business organizations. This includes corporations, partnerships and other associations which usually carry on some form of economic or charitable activity. The most prominent kind of company, usually referred to as a "corporation",...
, litigation and real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, with specialized areas of focus that include financial services, private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
, leveraged finance, technology, REITs and real estate capital markets, intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
and products liability.
History
In 1912, lawyers and former Harvard classmates Robert Goodwin and Joseph Procter ran into each other on the street and – as the story goes – decided to start their own law firm. On July 1, 1912, Goodwin & Procter opened its offices at 84 State StreetState Street (Boston)
State Street is a major street in the financial district in Boston, Massachusetts and is one of the oldest streets in the city. The street is the site of some historic landmarks. The Faneuil Hall Marketplace can also be found nearby...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, with the partners undertaking a general practice of law.
In the winter of 1912, Robert Goodwin with Att. Amos Taylor
Amos Taylor
Amos Leavitt Taylor was a lawyer and a politician who was very active in the Massachusetts Republican Party.-Personal life:Taylor was born in Danbury, New Hampshire, on February 22, 1877, to father Frank Leavitt Taylor and mother Nellie Jane Taylor.Amos Leavitt Taylor attended college at Brown,...
represented Marjorie Newell Robb
Marjorie Newell Robb
Marjorie Newell Robb was one of the last remaining survivors of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. She was the last remaining survivor who was a first class passenger.-Biography:...
against Oceanic Steam Navigation Company for the sum of $110,400.00 together with costs from April 15th, 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic. The loss of the life of her husband for the sum of $110,000.00, and the loss of the luggage and personal effect in the sum of $400.00.
In 1913, with business booming, the first associate
Associate attorney
An associate attorney is a lower-level employee of a traditional law firm who does not hold an ownership interest as a partner.-Attorneys:An associate may be a junior or senior associate, but normally does not yet hold an ownership interest in the firm even if they have been associated with the...
was hired by the firm: Harris H. Gilman – a Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
graduate – who signed on at $15 a week.
A year later, Joe Procter was approached by his friend and former classmate Arthur Ballantine, who inquired whether Joe’s previous offer to join the firm still stood. It did, and two years after the firm’s founding, the to-be name partner of New York-based Dewey Ballantine
Dewey Ballantine
Dewey Ballantine LLP was a white shoe corporate law firm headquartered in New York City. In 2007, Dewey Ballantine merged with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae to form Dewey & LeBoeuf...
joined the firm. For four years it operated as Goodwin, Procter & Ballantine.
World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
began unfolding, and by 1916 the war was directly affecting the firm. Goodwin accepted a commission into the Massachusetts National Guard
Massachusetts National Guard
The Massachusetts National Guard was founded as the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, and contains the oldest units in the United States Army. It is currently headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts and commanded by Major General Joseph C...
, and Arthur Ballantine was called up and asked to serve in the Bureau of Internal Revenue
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
’s Legal Department in Washington, D.C.
By 1917, only Procter and two associates remained to handle business. Samuel Hoar V was one of two litigators hired to help out. Six months later he too was called up for service. It wouldn’t be until 1919 that everyone would rejoin the firm. Soon after, Ballantine departed and Fred Field, a well-respected tax lawyer who was a friend of Procter’s and a colleague of Ballantine’s at the Revenue Bureau, signed on, and the firm was then known as Goodwin, Procter, Field & Hoar.
In early 1929, Fred Tarbell Field was appointed a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts (and would later become its Chief Justice), and the firm was renamed Goodwin, Procter & Hoar – a name it would retain for the next 72 years.
In 2004, the firm merged with the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-based litigation and regulatory mid-sized firm Shea & Gardner
Shea & Gardner
Shea & Gardner was a Washington, D.C.-based law firm that practiced from 1947 to 2004 when it merged with Boston-based Goodwin Procter. The firm was founded by two Roosevelt administration officials, Francis M. Shea and Warner W. Gardner...
. The following year over 60 attorneys from Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault
Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault
Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault LLP was a Boston law firm of approximately 400 attorneys at its peak in 2002 with revenues approaching $450 million. It dissolved in 2005 amid partner departures and the burst of the dot-com bubble. The firm was founded in 1973 and grew into a powerhouse representing...
joined Goodwin Procter as Testa Hurwitz dissolved. More recently, Goodwin Procter added a number of lawyers from Heller Ehrman
Heller Ehrman
Heller Ehrman LLP was an international law firm of more than 730 attorneys in 15 offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Heller Ehrman was founded in San Francisco in 1890 and had additional offices located in most of the major financial centers around the world including New York City, Los...
.
Goodwin Procter first established its West Coast presence in 2006, opening offices in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
(Century City) and San Francisco. It expanded in 2007 with a second office in Downtown L.A. and San Diego, and launched its Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
presence later that year. By 2009, the firm had 100 attorneys in its California offices.