Walter, Conston, Alexander & Green
Encyclopedia
Walter, Conston, Alexander & Green, P.C.
was a mid-sized full service New York-based law firm
that existed from 1843-2001 when it merged with Atlanta-based Alston & Bird
to launch the New York office of that national firm. The firm was formed with the merger of Walter, Conston & Schurtman established in 1955 by Otto Walter and Alexander & Green, an old-line firm established in 1843.
in 1884. Henry Alexander of legacy firm Alexander & Green represented Samuel Clemens in a contract dispute. It was a white shoe firm
that was one of the first of such historically Protestant institutions to accept Catholic attorneys and graduates from non-Ivy League
law schools in the 1920s. Walter, Conston & Schurtman was a firm with an international orientation. Otto Walter was a German-born Jew who was prohibited from practicing law in Germany upon graduation due to Nazi restrictions. He fled to the United States and studied law at New York Law School
. In the post-World War II years, Walter assisted in German-American reconciliation as an adviser to the German Ministry of Finance on various taxation and legal issues. Later his law firm went on to establish a strong German, Austrian and Swiss practice with a roster of bluechip German clients including Bertelsmann
and Beiersdorf
. It also had special expertise in e-commerce law, pharmaceutical, intellectual property, and telecommunications. The firm numbered some 54 attorneys in its New York headquarters and branch offices in Darien, CT and Munich, Germany.
For a short time subsequent to the merger with Alston & Bird, in an attempt to preserve some of the name recognition of the well-regarded Walter, Conston firm, the New York office operated under the moniker "Walter, Conston, Alexander & Green, the New York Office of Alston & Bird." Since the 2001 merger, many of the attorneys that practiced in the international area during the Walter, Conston era have left the firm.
Professional corporation
Professional corporations are those corporate entities for which many corporation statutes make special provision, regulating the use of the corporate form by licensed professionals such as attorneys, architects, engineers, public accountants and physicians...
was a mid-sized full service New York-based 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...
that existed from 1843-2001 when it merged with Atlanta-based Alston & Bird
Alston & Bird
Alston & Bird LLP, commonly abbreviated , is the largest law firm in Atlanta and the forty-third largest in the United States.-History:...
to launch the New York office of that national firm. The firm was formed with the merger of Walter, Conston & Schurtman established in 1955 by Otto Walter and Alexander & Green, an old-line firm established in 1843.
History
Alexander & Green was the launchpad for three former law clerks who went on to establish Simpson Thacher & BartlettSimpson Thacher & Bartlett
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is a law firm headquartered in New York City which employs over 800 attorneys in ten offices worldwide. The firm is highly regarded for its litigation and corporate practices, with special attention focused on its mergers and acquisitions specialty...
in 1884. Henry Alexander of legacy firm Alexander & Green represented Samuel Clemens in a contract dispute. It was a white shoe firm
White shoe firm
White shoe firm is a phrase used to describe the leading professional services firms in the United States, particularly firms that have been in existence for more than a century and represent Fortune 500 companies...
that was one of the first of such historically Protestant institutions to accept Catholic attorneys and graduates from non-Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
law schools in the 1920s. Walter, Conston & Schurtman was a firm with an international orientation. Otto Walter was a German-born Jew who was prohibited from practicing law in Germany upon graduation due to Nazi restrictions. He fled to the United States and studied law at New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
. In the post-World War II years, Walter assisted in German-American reconciliation as an adviser to the German Ministry of Finance on various taxation and legal issues. Later his law firm went on to establish a strong German, Austrian and Swiss practice with a roster of bluechip German clients including Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann AG is a multinational media corporation founded in 1835, based in Gütersloh, Germany. The company operates in 63 countries and employs 102,983 workers , which makes it the most international media corporation in the world. In 2008 the company reported a €16.118 billion consolidated...
and Beiersdorf
Beiersdorf
Beiersdorf AG is a multinational corporation based in Hamburg, Germany, manufacturing personal care products. Its brands include Elastoplast, Eucerin , Labello, and Nivea....
. It also had special expertise in e-commerce law, pharmaceutical, intellectual property, and telecommunications. The firm numbered some 54 attorneys in its New York headquarters and branch offices in Darien, CT and Munich, Germany.
For a short time subsequent to the merger with Alston & Bird, in an attempt to preserve some of the name recognition of the well-regarded Walter, Conston firm, the New York office operated under the moniker "Walter, Conston, Alexander & Green, the New York Office of Alston & Bird." Since the 2001 merger, many of the attorneys that practiced in the international area during the Walter, Conston era have left the firm.