Firm Profiles
IN-DEPTH RESEARCH REPORT
on Goodwin Procter LLP
- - Financial Information
- - Compensation
- - Billing Rates
- - Lateral Partner Moves
- - Pro bono
- - Key Contacts
Goodwin Procter
- Designation: Boston
- Head Count: 777
- Gross Revenues: $715,500,000
- Revenue Per Lawyer: $920,000
- Profits Per Partner: $1,515,000
- Year Over Year Change: 1
One of Boston’s old–line law firms, Goodwin Procter has seen much expansion since the late 1990s, tripling in size and growing its presence in Asia and London. A full–service firm, Goodwin focuses on technology, intellectual property, life sciences, private equity, real estate, and financial services. Its white–collar defense practice is well known, too.
Yet Goodwin, which was founded in 1912, has also seen challenges in recent years. Its transactional practice was hit hard during the economic crisis: and the firm laid off more than three dozen associates in February 2009. Even an uptick in Goodwin’s financials in 2011—helped by gains in technology, private equity, and corporate work— was due in part to a decreased equity partner roster (several of those departures coming from high–profile defections to rival firms during 2011). A more positive note was the firm’s transactional practice in Asia (based out of Goodwin’s Hong Kong office), which benefited from client investments in China. Ironically, the financial crisis triggered a steady stream of work for Goodwin’s litigation department, which has handled a stream of lawsuits brought against client Countrywide Financial Corporation (accusing the mortgage giant of engaging in misleading sales and marketing practices in the run–up to the housing meltdown). “At various times we’ve predicted that the pipeline [for those cases] is 18 months to two years out,” the firm’s chair, Regina Pisa, said in early 2012. “I think those cases have at least two to three year’s life left in them.”
While Goodwin’s financials may be getting a jump start, its noneconomic metrics still wait their turn. The firm has turned in middling numbers on some key surveys by The American Lawyer. It ranked 104th of 126 firms on our Midlevel Associates Survey in 2011, and with minorities comprising just 4 percent of the U.S. partner roster, Goodwin finished 110th (of 194 firms) on the magazine’s 2011 Diversity Scorecard. The firm’s pro bono score was better, but not awe–inspiring: With lawyers averaging a bit over 54 hours a year of nonpaying work, Goodwin finished seventy–first among the Am Law 200 firms.
—Updated as of 1/1/12
Firm Rankings
| Survey | Rank | Year Over Year Change | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Am Law 100 | 39 | 1 | Gross revenue |
| Am Law 200 | 39 | 1 | Gross revenue |
| NLJ 250 | 45 | 1 | Lawyer head count |
| The A-List | NR | N/A | Overall excellence |
| Pro Bono Scorecard | 71 | 32 | Pro-bono commitment |
| Diversity Scorecard | 119 | 9 | Minority head count |
| Midlevel Associates Survey | 104 | 14 | Job satisfaction |
| Summer Associates Survey | 50 | 22 | Summer programs |
In the News
Reassignment to a New Judge After Remand From the Federal Circuit
Robert C. Scheinfeld and Parker H. Bagley : New York Law Journal : May 22, 2013
In their Patent and Trademark Law column, Robert C. Scheinfeld, a partner at Baker Botts, and Parker H. Bagley, a partner at Goodwin Procter, write that the Federal Circuit does not have a specific rule relating to reassignment after remand and will look to the law of the circuit court in which the district court resides.
DCM's Matthew Bonner
Joshua Sisco : The Recorder : May 16, 2013
Practicing law through the dot-com bubble and bust profoundly shaped the former accountant.
Marketplace
Monica Paquette : New York Law Journal : May 15, 2013
The Greater Jamaica Development Group has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Blumenfeld Development Group to create a new retail and parking facility in downtown Jamaica, Queens. Also, EisnerAmper has signed an early renewal at 750 Third Ave, increasing the size of its New York City office.
Surging U.S. IPO Market Yields Gains for Cooley, Hunton
Brian Baxter : The Am Law Daily : May 14, 2013
U.S. companies have already raised $16.8 billion through initial public offerings so far this year and several Am Law 100 firms are reaping the benefits.
MOVERS
: The National Law Journal : May 13, 2013
Adrienne Pitts joins Baker & McKenzie as partner in the Chicago office. Plus more law firm movers in this week's column.
The Churn: Lateral Moves in The Am Law 200
Diane Jeantet : The Am Law Daily : May 7, 2013
Edwards Wildman Palmer expands its newly launched Miami office; a Department of Justice lawyer joins Steptoe & Johnson in Washington, D.C.; and Chadbourne & Parke loses a project finance partner in New York. The Churn is constant. Please send all announcements to thechurn@alm.com.
Mintz Levin Takes IP Partner From Goodwin Procter
Julia Love : The Recorder : May 3, 2013
IP partner Paul Davis has jumped from Goodwin Procter to Mintz Levin, the sixth partner to join the Boston-based firm in San Francisco so far this year. Davis' experience in life sciences and medical devices complements the firm's national strengths, said Paul Churchill, managing partner of the firm's San Francisco office.
VOLS Firms Meet Pro Bono 2012 Pledge
Bill Lienhard : New York Law Journal : May 3, 2013
Mintz Takes IP Partner From Goodwin
Julia Love : The Recorder : May 1, 2013
Stepping Up to the Plate
: Corporate Counsel : May 1, 2013
The general counsel of the baseball players union always goes to bat for his men; and other Moves.
- Adams and Reese
- Anderson Kill & Olick
- Arent Fox
- Arthur Cox
- Baker & McKenzie
- Buist Moore
- Chadbourne & Parke
- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
- Clifford Chance
- Cooley
- Covington & Burling
- Cravath, Swaine & Moore
- Davis Polk & Wardwell
- Dewey & LeBoeuf
- Dickstein Shapiro
- DLA Piper
- Duane Morris
- Eversheds
- Fish & Richardson
- Freehills
- Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
- Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian
- Heller Ehrman
- Herbert Smith
- Howrey
- Irwin Mitchell
- Jenner & Block
- K&L Gates
- Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman
- Kirkland & Ellis
- Latham & Watkins
- Linklaters
- Mallesons Stephen Jaques
- Minter Ellison
- Moore & Van Allen
- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
- Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
- Nexsen Pruet
- Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,
- Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
- Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
- Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
- Perkins Coie
- Proskauer Rose
- Reed Smith
- Ropes & Gray
- Ruden McClosky
- Shearman & Sterling
- Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton
- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
- Slaughter and May
- Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
- Sullivan & Cromwell
- Vinson & Elkins
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges
- Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr
- Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice
