DLA Piper is the Biggest, and Then Some
I do not say much about my firm, DLA Piper, in the Blog, but occasionally it seems appropriate.* And DLA being identified as the largest firm in the world in the recent 2007 National Law Journal 250, makes this one of those times. DLA Piper was formed a few years ago by the merger of DLA, Piper Rudnick and Gray Cary. In just about three years, the combined DLA Piper has become the largest firm in the world. Those of you who have worked with me or someone else at the firm, know that DLA Piper has offices spanning the world. Need legal help in Dubai? We have you covered. Some IP issues in China? We are there also. A contract question in Ghana or Prague? No problem.
The firm’s global footprint and focus on providing global service to global clients is one of the reasons I joined the firm, about one year ago. At the time, I was inhouse counsel for a multinational Fortune 100 company and had lots of trouble finding counsel across Europe and Asia that I felt like I could perform any quality control over because of language barriers and a lack of a direct, personal relationships with my outside counsel. I believe that DLA’s worldwide offices, provide that sort of service and comfort-level for its clients. And the AmLaw rankings have brought considerable coverage of the firm’s global footprint: Legal Blog Watch and WSJ Law Blog.
At first, I was concerned that all the news about DLA's size might overshadow what I consider the more important point -- DLA could not have achieved the size it has without providing excellent results and client service consistently, in each office around the world. Then I saw the WSJ Law Blog's interview last week of DLA Piper's co-CEO Frank Burch. I think Frank gets the point across well. DLA Piper's size is not its end goal, it is a by-product of serving clients globally on their most significant legal matters.
Shameless plug over, now let’s get back to Chicago IP litigation . . . .
* This is also a good time to remind you that the views expressed in the Blog are mine alone, and are not necessarily the views of DLA Piper or any of its clients.
