Bartlit Beck proudly labels itself as “a firm of trial lawyers, not litigators.” With more than 80 attorneys in two offices—one in Chicago and one in Denver—Bartlit Beck is best known for handling high-stakes litigation of all kinds and is often hired to “save the day” just before trial begins. It’s no wonder, considering the firm’s strong lineup—the majority of Bartlit Beck lawyers have completed a federal clerkship, and 15 percent have clerked on the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Innovative Values

Bartlit Beck opened shop in 1993 when its founding partners broke off from a large Chicago law firm and took a small group of associates with them. The founders’ vision was to create a firm with a more “intimate and energetic” environment by implementing a set of ideals that are in still in practice today: A physically open and collaborative environment, a small roster of lawyers (with a very high partner-to-associate ratio), and a non-traditional client billing structure that combines a flat-fee approach with win-based bonuses.  

See You in Court

Bartlit Beck boasts that its lawyers “are not afraid to try the case,” and the firm’s track record proves it. The firm is among Vault’s top-ranked litigation boutiques, has been named Trial Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation, and has been recognized by the likes of Chambers USA and BTI Consulting Group. 

Bartlit Beck is not afraid to take on cases of all kinds, from antitrust to class actions to IP litigation to products liability and everything in between. Not surprisingly, Bartlit Beck's client base is wide ranging to match. The firm has represented clients like Walgreens, Hewlett-Packard, Amazon, United Technologies, Bayer AG, and DuPont. Bartlit Beck’s founding partners have especially impressive resumes. Phil Beck served as trial counsel for George W. Bush during the 2000 election dispute in Florida, and President Obama asked Fred Bartlit to serve as chief counsel for the investigative panel following the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Though best known for its prowess in the courtroom, the firm has a strong corporate practice in its Denver office that includes middle-market mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings and compliance issues, corporate finance, hedge and private equity fund formation, and counseling on sensitive corporate governance matters. In line with the firm’s ideals, Bartlit Beck leanly staffs corporate matters with only two to three lawyers on a transaction.

A Historic Backdrop

Fitting for a trial-minded firm, Bartlit Beck’s Chicago office is located inside the historic “Courthouse Place” building that previously housed the Cook County Criminal Court for 35 years. This landmark building was witness to historic events like Clarence Darrow pleading against the death penalty, the Chicago White Sox trial that followed accusations of players throwing the 1919 World Series, and the “jazz age” trials that inspired the musical Chicago. Today, the Chicago office features unique fixtures that contrast with the building’s history—a basketball court that is also used as a conference room, for starters. The Denver office provides a similarly creative environment, with a rock-climbing wall located inside the office.

COVID-19 Update

Our recruiting efforts have continued during the pandemic. If you believe you have the requisite qualifications and are interested in joining Bartlit Beck, please contact our Hiring Partner, Cindy Sobel.