Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Headquarters425 Lexington Avenue
New York City
No. of offices11
No. of attorneys1,000+
Major practice areasGeneral practice: corporate, litigation and regulatory advice
Key peopleAlden Millard, Executive Committee Chairman[1]
RevenueIncrease US$2.15 billion (2022)[2]
Date founded1884 (1884)
Founder
Company typeLimited liability partnership
Websitewww.stblaw.com

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP[3] is a white-shoe law firm headquartered in New York City. The firm specializes in litigation and corporate practices, particularly mergers and acquisitions and private equity, with over 1,000 attorneys in 11 offices worldwide.[4]

History

John Simpson, Thomas Thacher and William Barnum organized the firm as "Simpson, Thacher & Barnum" on January 1, 1884, with offices at 9 Pine Street.[5] The three were formerly law clerks at the old-line firm Alexander & Green. The first associate salary was $10, and the first retainer fee was $50.[5] In 1889, the name was changed to Reed Simpson Thacher & Barnum when former U.S. House Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed joined the firm. Reed died in 1902, and the name was soon changed to Simpson Thacher Barnum & Bartlett. The final change came in 1904 when it was amended to its current name of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

From its original location at 9 Pine Street, the firm has operated at many offices throughout New York City until finally settling at its present location at 425 Lexington Avenue opposite Grand Central Terminal. The firm opened its Los Angeles office in 1996, Palo Alto in 1999 and in Washington, D.C. in 2005. Simpson Thacher began its international expansion in the late 70s, beginning with its London office in 1978. Since then, Simpson Thacher has expanded to Tokyo (1990), Hong Kong (1993), Beijing (2007), São Paulo (2009), and Brussels (2021).[6]

In 1974, Simpson Thacher named Conrad Harper, previously a noted civil rights attorney with the NAACP legal defense fund, to its partnership. Harper was only the second Black partner at a major New York City law firm. Simpson Thacher has since established its Conrad Harper 2L Diversity Fellowship for qualified applicants from underrepresented backgrounds.[7]

In 1988, Simpson Thacher, led by longtime chairman Richard Beattie, advised KKR's $25.1 billion acquisition of RJR Nabisco.[8][9] It was, at the time, the largest-ever private-equity purchase in history, the details of which are memorialized in the book "Barbarians at the Gate."[9]

Since opening in 1999,[10] the Palo Alto office has experienced remarkable growth in both size and prominence.[11] The Palo Alto branch is now the firm's second largest office and has come to represent some of Silicon Valley's most distinguished tech titans and private equity firms, playing a hand in a string of record breaking transactions.[12]

  • In 2004, Simpson Thacher represented the underwriters in Google's $2.7 billion IPO,[13] the largest technology IPO at the time.[14] More recently, the firm has represented Google in its $1.65 billion acquisition of YouTube.[15]
  • In 2008, Simpson Thacher represented JPMorgan Chase in a loan repayment transaction that also unintentionally changed a different $1.5 billion secured loan into an unsecured loan, which caused JPMorgan Chase to suffer up to $1.5 billion of losses when the debtor General Motors declared bankruptcy in 2009. Although Simpson Thacher did not originate the error, it failed to catch the mistake — with one firm attorney praising debtor counsel Mayer Brown for a "nice job on the documents," according to an opinion by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.[16]
  • In 2010, the firm represented Tesla Motors in its IPO, the first IPO of a new U.S. car company since Ford Motor Co. in 1956.[17]
  • In 2012, Simpson Thacher "helped launch Facebook, Inc."[18] in assisting the underwriters in Facebook's $16 billion IPO, at the time the largest technology offering ever and their third-largest IPO in U.S. history.[19]
  • In 2014, the firm set a new record in its representation of Alibaba Group Holding Limited in its initial public offering, the largest IPO ever to be conducted.[20] The record-breaking IPO raised $25 billion, ending its first day of trading with a market capitalization of $231 billion.[21] For this work, the firm was awarded "Global Final Deals of the Year" Award,[22] and Corporate Partners Leiming Chen (Hong Kong) and Bill Hinman (Palo Alto) were each recognized as "Deal Makers of the Year" by the American Lawyer.[23]
  • In 2016, the firm represented Microsoft in its $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn.[24]
  • In 2018, the firm represented Microsoft in its $7.5 billion acquisition of GitHub.[25]

In November 2023, amid a wave of antisemitic incidents at elite U.S. law schools, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett was among a group of major law firms who sent a letter to top law school deans warning them that an escalation in incidents targeting Jewish student would have corporate hiring consequences. The letter said "We look to you to ensure your students who hope to join our firms after graduation are prepared to be an active part of workplace communities that have zero tolerance policies for any form of discrimination or harassment, much less the kind that has been taking place on some law school campuses."[26]

Notable alumni

Simpson Thacher lawyers have included U.S. Senators, Solicitors General, a Speaker of the House of Representatives, a Secretary of State, a Secretary of the Army, Ambassadors, Judges on U.S. Circuit and District Courts and the New York State Court of Appeals, presidents of the American Bar Association, and presidents of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.

Judiciary

  • Guido Calabresi (Summer Associate) - Senior Circuit Court Judge, Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
  • Thomas D. Thacher - Former District Court Judge, Southern District of New York.
  • Dennis G. Jacobs - Circuit Court Judge and Former Chief Judge, Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
  • Eric Vitaliano - District Court Judge, Eastern District of New York.
  • Mary Kay Vyskocil, District Court Judge, Southern District of New York.

Government

Business

Academia

Others

Associate compensation

In 2007, Simpson Thacher led the market[28] by raising the base salary for first-year associates to $160,000 per year.[29] In the process, it established the market salary for all of its peer firms in New York City.[30] Simpson Thacher again led the market in 2014 when it raised associate bonuses by as much as $40,000,[31] matched within hours by other New York elite firms Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.[32]

In 2016, law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore beat the "Simpson salary scale" for the first time in nearly a decade with a 12.5% increase in associate base salary, a move that was promptly matched by Simpson Thacher and other large law firms. As of March 2, 2022, the base salary for first-year Simpson Thacher associates begins at $215,000.[33]

Rankings and awards

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is consistently among the most profitable large law firms in the world on a per-partner basis according to The American Lawyer's annual AmLaw 100 Survey. The firm is also recognized in various other surveys, including Vault.com's 2010 review of the 20 Best Law Firms to Work For.

  • Ranked among the most prestigious law firms to work for in the United States by Vault Law 100, placing 8th in 2022.[34]
  • Named "Finance Litigation Department of the Year" in 2022 by The New York Law Journal. [35]
  • Ranked among the Top 10 Law Firms in the 2016 Vault Rankings in 11 categories, including Securities, Banking and Financial Services, M&A, Private Equity, General Corporate Practice, Real Estate, and Tax.[36]
  • 2016 U.S. News "Law Firm of the Year" Award for Mergers and Acquisitions.[37]
  • Recognized in 33 categories, including 18 in the National Tier 1 category, in U.S. News 2016 Law Firm Rankings.[38]
  • Simpson Thacher was honored with an Above and Beyond Award by the Department of Defense in recognition of extraordinary support for its employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.[39]

It is among the most profitable large law firms in the world on a per-partner basis according to the American Lawyer’s annual AmLaw 100 Survey.[40] Simpson Thacher had a gross revenue of approximately $2.15 billion in 2022[41] with an estimated profits per partner of $5,319,000.[40]

The firm has represented the buyer in the five largest completed buyouts in history.[42]

The firm is also consistently deemed by a number of rankings and surveys as one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation, including AboveTheLaw,[43] Vault 100,[44] and Forbes.[45]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Millard's firm bio
  2. ↑ "The 2023 Am Law 100: Ranked by Gross Revenue".
  3. ↑ "Our People".
  4. ↑ LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (2022). "About Us". Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  5. 1 2 Firm Website, History
  6. ↑ "Our History". Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. 2022. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  7. ↑ [stblaw.com/docs/default-source/related-link-pdfs/conrad-harper-2l-diversity-fellowship-flyer.pdf "Simpson Thacher - Conrad Harper 2L Diversity Fellowship"] (PDF). Simpson Thacher - Conrad Harper 2L Diversity Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-06-07. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  8. ↑ Kolz, Amy (November 2006). "The American Lawyer" (PDF). Market Makers.
  9. 1 2 "The Blackstone-Simpson Thacher Connection". WSJ Blogs - Law Blog. 2007-03-16. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  10. ↑ LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. "Our History". www.stblaw.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  11. ↑ LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. "Palo Alto". www.stblaw.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  12. ↑ LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. "Palo Alto". www.stblaw.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  13. ↑ LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. "William H. Hinman". www.stblaw.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  14. ↑ "Google IPO Central - Unofficial Site for Latest Investing and Stock Offering News". www.google-ipo.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  15. ↑ LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. "Kirsten J. Jensen". www.stblaw.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  16. ↑ Broady, Gavin. "Simpson Thacher May Be Haunted By $1.5B Loan Gaffe - Law360". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  17. ↑ "Simpson Thacher Palo Alto Office" (PDF).
  18. ↑ "Fenwick, Simpson Thacher Teams Help Launch Facebook IPO - Law360". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  19. ↑ LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. "William H. Hinman". www.stblaw.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  20. ↑ LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. "Details". www.stblaw.com. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  21. ↑ "Dealmakers of the Year: Leiming Chen and William Hinman of Simpson Thacher". Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  22. ↑ LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. "Details". www.stblaw.com. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  23. ↑ LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. "Details". www.stblaw.com. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  24. ↑ Merced, Michael J. De La (2016-06-13). "Handful of Advisers Behind Microsoft's Deal for LinkedIn". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
  25. ↑ "Microsoft to acquire GitHub for $7.5 billion". Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  26. ↑ Sorkin, Andrew Ross; Mattu, Ravi; Warner, Bernhard; Kessler, Sarah; Merced, Michael J. de la; Hirsch, Lauren; Livni, Ephrat (2 November 2023). "Law Firms Warn Universities About Antisemitism on Campus". New York Times. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  27. ↑ "Thomas J. Curry to Step Down May 5, Keith A. Noreika to Serve as Acting Comptroller of the Currency". Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  28. ↑ Chambers Firm Profile
  29. ↑ Anthony Lin, Simpson Hikes Pay; First Years Go to $160,000, New York Law Journal, January 23, 2007
  30. ↑ Chambers-Associate Firm Profile
  31. ↑ Gorman, Nathalie (November 21, 2014). "Associates, Rejoice: Simpson Thacher Kicks Off Bonus Season Early". ALM, Law.com.
  32. ↑ Jones, Ashby (November 21, 2014). "Elite Law Firms Lift Year-End Bonuses". Wall Street Journal.
  33. ↑ Rubino, Kathryn (2022-03-02). "Top 20 Firm Shares The Love -- Money, That Is -- With Hardworking Associates". Above the Law. ISSN 0099-9660.
  34. ↑ "Vault.com|Best Law companies to work for|Vault Law 100". www.vault.com. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  35. ↑ "Litigation Department of the Year, Finance: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett". New York Law Journal. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  36. ↑ "Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP|Company Rankings|Vault.com". www.vault.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  37. ↑ "U.S. News - Best Lawyers". bestlawfirms.usnews.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  38. ↑ "U.S. News - Best Lawyers". bestlawfirms.usnews.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  39. ↑ "Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP honored by Department of Defense for patriotic support > Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve". www.esgr.mil. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  40. 1 2 "The 2023 Am Law 100: Ranked by Profits Per Equity Partner". www.americanlawyer.com. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  41. ↑ "The 2023 Am Law 100: Ranked by Gross Revenue". Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  42. ↑ "Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett LLP". www.top-law-schools.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  43. ↑ "The ATL Power 100 Law Firms (2015)". Above the Law. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  44. ↑ "Vault.com|Best Law companies to work for|Vault Law 100". www.vault.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  45. ↑ "Annual Ranking Highlights The Most Prestigious Law Firms In The U.S." Forbes. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
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