We have one location in New York City on purpose. It allows us to share our knowledge and experience, creating a collaborative culture that benefits our clients, our attorneys and our staff.
All of our lawyers are committed to serving clients both nationally and globally. The practice combines deep and varied litigation and appellate experience in fields such as commercial law, intellectual property (patent, trademark and copyright), false advertising and unfair competition, media, employment, product liability, securities, white collar crime and corporate investigations, with a unique transactional and counseling practice that includes corporate, tax, employee benefits, trusts and estates/personal planning and real estate law, as well as the City's leading tax-exempt organizations practice.
Throughout the years, firm leaders have carefully managed growth to maintain an intimate environment in which partners, counsel and associates representing different practice areas work closely together, calling upon each others' skills. The firm believes in staffing matters only with the number of lawyers necessary to do the job. This approach promotes cost-efficiency while providing clients with personal attention and our lawyers with the experience and skills that foster successful careers. The reward for Patterson Belknap has been the loyalty of its clients, many of whom have remained with the firm for decades, and the strength and dedication of our attorneys, many of whom have become partners with the firm or have gone on to outstanding careers in government and business.
Notable Accomplishments
- Patterson Belknap is on The American Lawyer's 2011 "A-List" of 20 leading law firms in the United States. The "A-List" is based on four critera: pro bono performance, associate satisfaction, diversity of lawyers and financial performance. The American Lawyer considers the "A-List" firms to be the "top tier of elite firms."
- Patterson Belknap ranked #2 in New York and #8 nationally in the newly-released Vault 2012 survey of the "Best Law Firms to Work For."
- Placed in the top ten in associate satisfaction among New York City-based firms in The American Lawyer's 2011 ranking (based on the 2011 mid-level associate survey).
- We have ranked near the top of The American Lawyer's pro bono survey since its inception in 1999. Since 2004, 100% of the firm's attorneys participated in pro bono projects, perhaps a first for a firm of our size.
- Honored by MFY Legal Services, Inc. for our pro bono contributions in New York City, through the establishment of a "Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler Fellowship."
- One of the first major firms in New York City to elect a woman as managing partner. In addition to our Diversity Committee, a group of our attorneys formed PAC (Patterson Attorneys of Color) to assist with the enhancement of workplace diversity and the recruitment, retention and promotion of attorneys of color. Another group, Out at Patterson, focuses on issues relevant to the firm's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered, and Women Lawyers at Patterson (WLAP) focuses on women’s issues.
- The firm's litigation department has enjoyed a long string of successful jury victories, ranging from patent and trademark infringement /false advertising to antitrust to professional malpractice cases.
- The corporate department has had a succession of banner years, closing hundreds of client deals for both emerging and fully established companies. The practice has achieved particular prominence for its assistance to foreign companies seeking to do business in the United States.
- The firms renowned tax-exempt organizations group represents approximately 200 nonprofit entities. These clients range from museums and universities to wildlife conservation groups and charitable foundations.
Patterson Belknap was among the first law firms approved by the New York State CLE board as an accredited provider of continuing legal education courses.
By the Numbers
201 attorneys, including:
53 partners
26 counsel and of counsel
115 associates
7 staff/contract attorneys