2024 DIVERSITY DATABASE UNDERWRITER Covington & Burling

This “brain trust” law firm is known for quietly (and smartly) going about its business—antitrust, litigation, white collar defense & investigations, corporate, intellectual property, export controls, data privacy and cybersecurity, and regulatory work—with particular strengths in the sports, insurance, life science/pharma, energy, tech, and media/entertainment industries.

Capital Roots

Judge J. Harry Covington and Edward B. Burling founded their firm in Washington, DC, in 1919, with a (then unique) concept of focus on regulatory issues. Since its founding, most members of the Fortune 200 have worked with Covington. The firm played significant roles in many of the leading legal matters that arose from the New Deal. Later, in the 1950s, Covington lawyers wrote the key briefs in the Steel Seizure cases. As the federal government expanded, so did Covington, attending to issues involving the FDA, IRS, FAA, FCC, and other multilettered agencies. With this Washington-based practice, it’s no wonder that the firm has numerous former government officials among its ranks.

Major League

Covington counsels across myriad industries, including aerospace; consumer brands; digital health; energy; financial services; gaming; life sciences; media, internet, and technology; mining and metals; sports; and transportation.

The firm is known for its white collar team, which boasts more than 100 lawyers—including former high-profile government lawyers—and sits comfortably within Vault’s top five firms for white collar defense and internal investigations. Clients regularly call on the firm to handle matters involving crisis management, the False Claims Act, internal investigations, regulatory issues, shareholder litigation, whistleblower claims, and other matters.

One simply can’t discuss Covington without mentioning its robust sports practice. With more than 50 years of experience, Covington’s sports law department is an all-star team. The group has represented the likes of MLB, MLS, NASCAR, the NBA, the NFL, the NHL, the USGA, and the USTA. The firm also counsels college sports leagues on a variety of matters and advised both the pros and colleges on their broadcast contracts. The sports practice is multifaceted, but Covington lawyers meet the challenge, handling everything from antitrust, collective bargaining, financings, insurance, media rights, regulatory affairs to sponsorships and tax.

Giving Associates a Voice

At Covington, when associates speak, people listen. The firm’s Associate Advisory Committee includes both associates and partners and provides an outlet for associates to offer opinions on firm decisions. The firm also offers a confidential process for associates to request advice through “associate ombudspersons.” The ombudsperson is a senior lawyer from whom associates can seek confidential advice.

• Covington Represents Bristol Myers Squibb in $14B Merger with Karuna Therapeutics
• Covington Team Secures Crucial Victories For Ukraine Before the World Court
• Covington Wins Three Cases in Two Days for TikTok, creating important precedents for TikTok in fighting similar litigation and legislation in other states that threaten the company
• Covington Appellate Team Successfully Defends Government's Authority to Dismiss False Claims Act Suits Before Supreme Court on Behalf of Executive Health Resources

• Firm of the Year, 2019-2024 – Law360
• #1 Ranked Firm on the Pro Bono Scorecard, 2023
• American Lawyer ESG and Community Impact Leader, 2013
• National Law Journal Product Liability Litigation Department of the Year, 2023
• American Lawyer White Collar Litigation Department of the Year, 2023 – National Law Journal