Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault
Encyclopedia
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 venture capital
funds and startups
that prospered during Boston's technology boom. Notable clients included Digital Equipment Corporation
, JBoss, Inc.
and Teradyne
, Inc. The firm's flagship practice was its fund formation and private equity
group. In December 2004, the fund formation practice decamped to the Boston office of the New York firm Proskauer Rose
, heralding the demise of Testa, Hurwitz. The firm's partners scattered to a number of firms, including Goodwin Procter
,Choate, Hall & Stewart
amongst others.
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...
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...
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
Dot-com bubble
The dot-com bubble was a speculative bubble covering roughly 1995–2000 during which stock markets in industrialized nations saw their equity value rise rapidly from growth in the more...
. The firm was founded in 1973 and grew into a powerhouse representing venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
funds and startups
Startup company
A startup company or startup is a company with a limited operating history. These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of development and research for markets...
that prospered during Boston's technology boom. Notable clients included Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation was a major American company in the computer industry and a leading vendor of computer systems, software and peripherals from the 1960s to the 1990s...
, JBoss, Inc.
JBoss (company)
JBoss is a division of Red Hat, Inc.. It specializes in open-source middleware software.The company profits from a service-based business model. JBoss employ a Professional Open Source business model where the core developers of projects make a living and offer their services...
and Teradyne
Teradyne
Teradyne , a US company, is a supplier of automatic test equipment . The company's divisions Semiconductor Test and Systems Test Group, are organized by the products they develop and deliver.-History:...
, Inc. The firm's flagship practice was its fund formation and 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....
group. In December 2004, the fund formation practice decamped to the Boston office of the New York firm Proskauer Rose
Proskauer Rose
Proskauer Rose is one of the largest law firms in the United States, with twelve offices in the United States and around the world...
, heralding the demise of Testa, Hurwitz. The firm's partners scattered to a number of firms, including Goodwin Procter
Goodwin Procter
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....
,Choate, Hall & Stewart
Choate, Hall & Stewart
Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP is a Boston-based law firm founded in 1899. It is currently one of the largest law firms in the Greater Boston market, and one of the old-line Boston Brahmin firms which has previously been described by The New York Times as having a reputation for being "stuffy." Legal...
amongst others.