BCLP

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has established itself in the 21st century as an ambitious upstart on the global scene while retaining its historic ties to the Show Me State. Today, the firm has more than 1,200 attorneys and other professionals across three continents.

Come Together

Founded in 1873 in St. Louis as King, Phillips, and Stewart, the firm became Stewart, Bryan, Christie, and Williams through a merger in 1911. When Rhodes Cave joined in 1917, the firm took on the name Bryan, Williams, and Cave. The firm underwent national expansion in the 1970s and turned its attention to overseas growth a decade later, and it wasn’t long before the firm solidified its reputation abroad. In April 2018, Bryan Cave merged with Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP. The new firm, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, generates revenues of over $900 million and provides clients with access to international practices and sector teams in 35 offices in 11 countries.

From the Workplace to the Landfill

BCLP operates under a one firm model that encourages cross-practice and cross-border teams in corporate, finance, investigations, litigation, regulatory, and tax practices. It has more than 550 litigators around the world counseling on issues ranging from antitrust, international arbitration, and white-collar defense to employment and intellectual property matters. Its reputable employment and labor practice handles litigation, workplace investigations, and regulatory matters. The firm’s lawyers focus on cross-border employment issues, diversity, employee privacy, labor law, management and employee training, wage and hour, whistleblowers, and other matters.

The firm is known for its specialized environmental law work, which it has been developing for more than two decades. This wide-ranging practice includes counseling on the Clean Air Act, compliance matters, insurance-related issues, international environmental law, oil spills, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, solid waste and landfills, water rights, and the Clean Water Act.

Tech Lifeline

In addition to representation of its clients in legal matters, BCLP solves its business problems with more technological expertise than is typical for a law firm. For example, BCLP has created a multitude of proprietary tech platforms that provide legal advice: CrossLITE, a workflow management tool; SwiftAgreement, a service for drafting neutral contracts without the need for additional attorney input; and Clear/Cut, an AI program that analyzes risk to provide advice on whether to settle an issue or fight it in court.

• NCAA trial victory: BCLP co-represented the National Collegiate Athletic Association in a wrongful death matter, securing a complete defense verdict from the jury. The court ruled that the NCAA was not negligent in any respect.
• Missouri Supreme Court win: BCLP defended Tyler Technologies Inc., a public sector technology solutions company, before the Missouri Supreme Court in a class action lawsuit filed by Missouri property owners alleging the company acted unlawfully during the 2023 real property assessment process. The court unanimously ruled in favor of Tyler Technologies, dismissing all negligence counts.
• Global first passenger air taxi service launch: BCLP advised vertiport operator Skyports Infrastructure on a groundbreaking deal with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority for the launch of a global first passenger air taxi service—endorsed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates. The deal will allow Dubai to become the first location with a commercial, city-wide electric air taxi service.
• Berry-Glatfelter $3.6 billion merger: BCLP represents Berry Global Group Inc., a Fortune 500 packaging solutions company, in its $3.6 billion merger with Glatfelter Corp., an engineered materials supplier, creating a leading global competitor in the specialty materials industry.

• 100% score on the Corporate Equality Index, 2025 —Human Rights Campaign
• Mansfield Rule Certification 6.0 and Founding Signatory Firm, 2023—Diversity Lab
• Silver Award Winner and Top Global Employer, 2023—Stonewall
• Bloomberg Law Framework Member, 2023—Bloomberg Law
• Finalist, Best Professional Development Initiative, Am Law Industry Awards, 2024—The American Lawyer wards