Company Profile
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Company Overview
Pillsbury is a full-service law firm with market-leading strengths in the energy, financial services, real estate and technology sectors. With offices in the world's major financial and technology centers, we counsel clients on all aspects of global transactions and litigation. Our multidisciplinary teams allow us to anticipate trends and offer a 360-degree perspective on complex business and legal issues—helping clients take greater advantage of opportunities and better mitigate risk.
Company History
Throughout our long history, we have helped create and guide some of the world's most successful companies, delivering groundbreaking work on their behalf.
Pillsbury is indelibly linked to the development of the industrial age and the evolution of today's global digital economy. In the late 1800s we helped long-time client AT&T install the first telephone wires on city streets; incorporated the predecessor to Chevron in 1900; and 105 years later advised Chevron in its $18.5B acquisition of Unocal. We enforced the first patent for an X-ray machine used in the treatment of cancer in 1940; co-authored the 1952 Patent Act; launched the nation's first nuclear energy practice in 1960; and advised on the formation of Intel Corporation in 1968. In 1970, we took the first New York Stock Exchange member firm public; in 1987, won an important decision from the U.S. Supreme Court allowing states to regulate corporate takeovers; registered the first trademark for a dotcom in 1994; and facilitated a record $2.2B public offering for Network Solutions, Inc. in 2000.
More recently, we have facilitated the first-ever export of nuclear reactor technology from Japan; negotiated regulatory and operations hurdles to enable China's only commercial airline to take its first historic flight between China and the United States; handled the largest-ever private disposition of real estate assets in Washington, DC ($2.3B); and helped convince the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that foreign detainees being held without charge at Guantanamo Bay are entitled to habeas corpus rights under the U.S. Constitution. Pillsbury lawyers have influenced and shaped not just the law, but the geopolitical landscape, helping to set policy on everything from the environment to securities reform and international banking regulations. Among the firm's illustrious alumni are two Secretaries of State, two Secretaries of War, a Secretary of Defense, a Supreme Court Justice, and a Nobel Laureate. Today, more than 100 Pillsbury lawyers have held previous top positions at various government and regulatory agencies, including the DOJ, EPA, FAA, FERC, IRS, NOAA, SEC and USPTO, as well as serving in Congress and as senior White House staff and advisors.
Pillsbury is market-leading in some of today's most dynamic areas. Our attorneys embrace change to meet the evolving needs of our clients, be it representing shareholders or corporations in class actions suits or restructurings arising from the credit crisis, exploring innovative ways for clients to benefit from new federal investments in energy, clean tech, infrastructure and affordable housing projects or advising on the latest regulatory changes in financial services, healthcare and telecommunications.
Notable Clients
Association of American Railroads, California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), George Washington University, Los Angeles Unified School District, Stanford University and Hospitals