2022 DIVERSITY DATABASE UNDERWRITER White & Case

Founded at the dawn of the 20th century, White & Case has grown from its New York beginnings to become a truly global law firm. The firm has 44 offices across 30 countries—including eight in the U.S.—and is well known for its experience handling cross-border and multi-jurisdictional cases and transactions.

Big Apple Roots

Using their own savings, Justin DuPratt White and George B. Case opened their eponymous firm in downtown Manhattan in 1901, profiting quickly thanks to their relationship with Henry P. Davison, a prominent financier who became a senior partner at JP Morgan & Company. White & Case also advised White’s alma mater, Cornell University. In 1926, the firm opened its first foreign office in Paris—the beginning of the firm’s international expansion that continues today.

A Longtime Pioneer and the Original International Law Firm

White & Case is renowned for its track record and extensive experience in global M&A, finance, antitrust, arbitration, and financial restructuring and insolvency. Today, the firm’s client roster includes 75% of the Global Fortune 100, 25% of the Fortune 500, startups, governments, sovereigns, and state-owned entities. 

The firm works across more than two dozen practice areas, from antitrust/competition to project development and finance, white collar and more. Among the 13 industries it works in are consumer products, financial institutions, manufacturing and industrial, media, mining and metals, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and health care, power, private equity, real estate, and technology.

White & Case pioneered the international law firm model and has long been a leader in the expansion into emerging markets, often helping to create and write the laws of new jurisdictions. With cross-border expertise and multi-office teams composed of local, U.S., and English-qualified lawyers, the firm is well positioned to support its clients, including some of the world’s most respected and well-established banks and businesses, as well as startups and sector disruptors. 

The firm’s global mindset extends to its practice, and lawyers are encouraged to explore opportunities to work abroad. Associates at White & Case have opportunities to pursue temporary assignments abroad, international and domestic client secondments, and long-term opportunities at one of the firm’s overseas offices.

Diversity and Inclusion: A Track Record of Success and Ambitious Plans

A regular at the top end of Vault’s diversity rankings, White & Case is a recognized leader in the DEI space. The firm has also achieved Mansfield Certification Plus in recognition of its achievements, including reaching at least 30% diverse lawyer representation in a number of current leadership roles and committees.

The firm is home to six active affinity groups in the U.S.—Alianza, the Hispanic American network; the Asian Affinity Network; the Black Affinity Network; the Middle Eastern and North African Affinity Network; the Alliance Women’s Network; and Spectrum, the LGBTQ+ Affinity Network.

• White & Case achieved victory in the Delaware Court of Chancery for Anthem, Inc. in a trial against former merger partner Cigna, as the Court determined that Cigna breached the $54 billion merger agreement, and relieved Anthem of the obligation to pay the $1.85 billion contractual termination fee. Anthem also defeated each of Cigna’s claims.
• White & Case acted as co-counsel with the Education Law Centre and the ACLU to bring a lawsuit against the state of Michigan on behalf of children with learning disabilities in the Flint, Michigan school district who have been damaged by the impact of lead-contaminated water in Flint.
• White & Case represented Hertz Vehicle Financing III LLC ("HVF III") in its issuance and sale of approximately $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of term rental car asset-backed securities.
• Our Global Antitrust/Competition practice formed the Racial Justice Task Force in 2020 to fight racism and social injustice in areas including criminal justice, and has taken on numerous pro bono matters since then. The Task Force contacted several Firm clients to offer them the opportunity to collaborate on pro bono cases. AbbVie, a longtime client, decided to team up with White & Case to work on cases through the Second Look Project, a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy and legal support to individuals seeking relief from extreme criminal sentences in the District of Columbia.

• Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified, 2022—Diversity Lab
• Band 1: Antitrust: Cartel; Capital Markets: Securitization: Whole Business; Energy Section (International & Cross-Border); Energy: Mining & Metals (Transactional); International Arbitration; International Trade: CFIUS Experts; SPACS, 2023—Chambers Global
• Firm Leader in Associate Retention, Associate Satisfaction, Career Development, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Pro Bono, 2022—Chambers Associate
• Pro Bono Firm of the Year, 2022—Who’s Who Legal
• Winner of the FT Innovative Lawyer North America Award for Innovation in People and Skills Management, 2022—The Financial Times