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Mayer Brown

{{Short description|American law firm}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox Law Firm

| firm_name = Mayer Brown

| firm_logo = Mayer Brown logo.svg

| offices = 71 South Wacker, Chicago, Illinois, United States{{Cite web|url=http://www.mayerbrown.com/locations/Chicago/|title=Chicago|website=www.mayerbrown.com}}

| num_offices = 27 total{{Cite web|url=https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2022/03/17/mayer-brown-rode-calling-card-practices-to-more-than-20-revenue-profit-growth/|title=Mayer Brown Rode 'Calling Card' Practices to More Than 20% Revenue, Profit Growth|website=The American Lawyer}}

| num_lawyers = More than 1,900 (2021){{Cite web|url=https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2022/06/21/the-nlj-500-ranked-by-head-count/|title=The NLJ 500: Ranked by Head Count|website=National Law Journal}}

| practice_areas = litigation, capital markets, real estate, fund formation, finance[https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2022/02/07/how-mayer-browns-jon-van-gorp-approaches-leadership-the-talent-war-and-podcasting/? How Mayer Brown's Jon Van Gorp Approaches Leadership, the Talent War—and Podcasting]

| key_people = Jon Van Gorp (Chairman)

| revenue = {{Profit}} $1.85 billion (2021){{Cite web|url=https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2022/03/17/mayer-brown-rode-calling-card-practices-to-more-than-20-revenue-profit-growth/|title = Mayer Brown Rode 'Calling Card' Practices to More Than 20% Revenue, Profit Growth}}

| date_founded = 1881; 140 years ago

| founder = Adolf Kraus
Levy Mayer

| company_type = Limited liability partnership

| homepage = {{URL|mayerbrown.com/}}

}}

Mayer Brown is a global white-shoe law firm, founded in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It has offices in 27 cities throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, with its largest offices being in Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York City, Hong Kong,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/locations/hong-kong|title=Hong Kong | Mayer Brown|website=www.mayerbrown.com}} and London.

History

File:ARMOUR, J. OGDEN. AT LEFT WITH LEVY MAYER, ATTORNEY LCCN2016869636.jpg, left, with attorney Levy Mayer at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C, 1918.]]

Mayer Brown was founded in Chicago in the late 1800’s. Among its earliest clients were retail giant Sears Roebuck and Co.{{Cite book |last=Djordjevich |first=Vera |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ga0tgp9_iuYC&dq=%22Mayer+Brown%22&pg=PA206 |title=Vault Guide to the Top Chicago & Midwest Law Firms |date=2007 |publisher=Vault Inc. |isbn=978-1-58131-460-1 |language=en}}

File:Adolf Kraus.png, lawyer and co-founder of Mayer Brown]]

The three firms that now form the core of Mayer Brown were all founded in the 19th century. The US portion of the firm was founded in 1881 in Chicago, by Adolf Kraus and Levy Mayer, and was shortly thereafter known as Kraus, Mayer & Brackett. After several changes in name to reflect its growing membership, the firm eventually became known in the US as Mayer, Brown & Platt.

In 2002, the firm merged with British law firm Rowe & Maw which was established in 1895 in London and operated under that name until joining with Mayer, Brown & Platt in 2002 to form Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw.{{Cite web |title=The Charlotte Observer 11 Feb 2002, page 66 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/630548628/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} In 2007, the amalgamated firm shortened its name to Mayer Brown.{{Cite web |title=Chicago Tribune 29 Jan 2002, page 29 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/390065489/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}

Johnson Stokes & Master was formed in 1863 in Hong Kong, and known formerly as Mayer Brown JSM after merging with Mayer Brown in 2008.{{Cite web|date=August 30, 2018|first=John|last=Kang|title=Mayer Brown to drop 128-year-old iconic JSM name in Asia|url=https://www.law.com/international-edition/2018/08/30/mayer-brown-to-drop-128-year-old-iconic-jsm-name-in-asia-378-87979/|access-date=2020-09-02|website=Law.com International|language=en-gb}}

Mayer Brown has offices in Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=The Legal500 |url=https://www.legal500.com/firms/50636-mayer-brown/52542-new-york-usa/ |website=The Legal 500}} In Brazil, the firm has an association with Tauil & Chequer Advogados.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-10 |title=Mayer Brown – What The Lawyer Says |url=https://www.thelawyer.com/mayer-brown/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=The Lawyer {{!}} Legal insight, benchmarking data and jobs |language=en-GB}} The firm operates as a collective of separate legal entities with offices in 14 countries. In October 2022, the firm launched its own joint law venture with Singapore law firm PK Wong & Nair LLC known as Mayer Brown PK Wong & Nair PTE. Ltd.{{Cite news |last=Dixit |first=Nimitt |date=2022-10-25 |title=Mayer Brown expands in Singapore with new law firm joint venture |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/mayer-brown-expands-singapore-with-new-law-firm-joint-venture-2022-10-25/ |access-date=2023-02-11}} The firms' other Asia office is in Tokyo.{{Cite web |title=Mayer Brown forges Singapore joint venture as it pursues twin hub strategy for Asia |url=https://www.globallegalpost.com/news/mayer-brown-forges-singapore-joint-venture-as-it-pursues-twin-hub-strategy-for-asia-1447599984 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=www.globallegalpost.com |language=en}}

As of 2009, the firm represented 89 companies of the Fortune 500.{{Cite news |last=Steingart |first=Gabor |date=2009-08-24 |title=USA: "Kaufmann des Todes" |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/a-644619.html |access-date=2023-01-12 |issn=2195-1349}}

In May 2024, It announced that it had reached an agreement to split from its China operations, with its Hong Kong entity JSM set to oversee the Beijing and Shanghai offices, amid tensions in U.S.-China relations.{{Cite web |title=Mayer Brown Splits From Hong Kong Unit Amid US-China Tension (2) |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/mayer-brown-to-split-from-hong-kong-office-amid-us-china-tension |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=news.bloomberglaw.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=U.S. law firm Mayer Brown confirms split from China operations |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-China-tensions/U.S.-law-firm-Mayer-Brown-confirms-split-from-China-operations |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB}}

''Pro bono'' work

Mayer Brown is a signatory to the Pro Bono Institute's Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge, which commits the firm to devote 3 percent of total billable time to pro bono work[http://www.probonoinst.org/projects/law-firm-pro-bono/law-firm-pro-bono-challenge-signatory-law-firms/law-firm-pro-bono-challenge-signatories-list/ "Probonoinst.org"], retrieved September 27, 2013. and a member of the UK Joint Protocol on Pro Bono Work, which stipulates that pro bono legal work must be carried out to the same standard as chargeable work.[http://lawworks.org.uk/list-of-members "Lawworks.org.uk"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002172501/http://lawworks.org.uk/list-of-members |date=2013-10-02 }}, retrieved September 27, 2013.

Partner John F. Halbleib represented the Milton Hershey School on a pro bono basis from 1998 to 2002.{{Cite web |last=Malawskey |first=Nick |date=2012-02-24 |title=Former Milton Hershey School alumni president sues school's trust fund, board member |url=https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2012/02/former_milton_hershey_school_a.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=pennlive |language=en}}

In 2001, lawyer Lee Rubin represented the National Security Archives in an effort by the U.S. State Department to recover 10,000 pages of transcripts of telephone conversations from former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger{{Cite web |title=Archive Hails Turnover of Kissinger Papers |url=https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/news/20010809/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=nsarchive2.gwu.edu}}

Ward Johnson, a managing partner in the firm’s Northern California office, secured the release of Ken Oliver who had been convicted in 1997 to life in prison under California’s "three strikes" law. Oliver spent 23 years in prison before Johnson secured his release in 2017 along with a $125,000 settlement for violating Oliver’s civil rights.{{Cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Jenna |date=2021-12-09 |title=From prisoner to philanthropist, the remarkable journey of Ken Oliver |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/prisoner-philanthropist-remarkable-journey-ken-oliver-2021-12-09/ |access-date=2023-02-12}}

Attorney Brian Netter spent four years working pro bono to have the District of Columbia’s budget freed from federal control in a case tied to the 2012 Budget Autonomy Act.{{Cite web |date=2016-05-06 |title=How a Pair of Moonlighting Attorneys Won a Landmark Budget Autonomy Case for DC - Washingtonian |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/05/06/attorneys-won-landmark-case-budget-autonomy-act-dc/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |language=en-US}}

Partner Marcia Maack, the director of pro-bono activities for the firm, helped secure a special immigrant visa in 2017 for an interpreter who had served American forces in Iraq.{{Cite magazine |last=Johnson |first=Kirk Wallace |date=2017-02-07 |title=A Temporary Reprieve for Some Iraqi Refugees |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-temporary-reprieve-for-some-iraqi-refugees |access-date=2023-02-12 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}}

In 2017 attorney Andrew Pincus represented the city of Seattle in a pro bono lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s threats against sanctuary cities that refused to aid in federal immigration crackdowns.{{Cite web |last=Kroman |first=David |title=Seattle sues Trump over sanctuary city threats {{!}} Crosscut |url=https://crosscut.com/2017/03/seattle-will-sue-trump-over-sanctuary-city-threats |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=crosscut.com |language=en}} That same year, Pincus and others represented two Yemeni men who had been detained at the Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. after Trump signed the first ban on travelers from seven majority Muslim countries.{{Cite web |title=Lawyers Clamor for Access to Travelers Detained Under Muslim Ban |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/lawyers-clamor-for-access-to-travelers-detained-under-muslim-ban/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=www.courthousenews.com |language=en-US}}

Partners Nicole Saharsky, Michael Scodro and Marcia Goodman along with associates Minh Nguyen-Dang and Carmen Longoria-Green, obtained a landmark settlement for the players on the US Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) in their 2019 equal-pay lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation (USSF).{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Andrew |date=2022-02-22 |title=U.S. Soccer and Women's Players Agree to Settle Equal Pay Lawsuit |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/22/sports/soccer/us-womens-soccer-equal-pay.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |issn=0362-4331}} The parties agreed to settle for $24 million in backpay damages and a guarantee of equal pay going forward for all games, including for the World Cup. This is the first commitment from a major US sports federation to pay female and male athletes equally.{{Cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Jenna |date=2022-03-07 |title=Win, lose or draw? Inside the U.S. women's soccer settlement |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/win-lose-or-draw-inside-us-womens-soccer-settlement-2022-03-07/ |access-date=2023-02-11}}

In 2019, Mayer Brown obtained a nationwide injunction against the US government and its decision to terminate temporary protected status for 60,000 Haitians.{{Cite web |title=Trump Can't End Protections For Haitian Refugees In TPS Suit - Law360 |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1149243/trump-can-t-end-protections-for-haitian-refugees-in-tps-suit |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=www.law360.com |language=en}}

Attorneys Matthew Ingber, Christopher Mikesh, and Justin Perkins secured asylum in the United States for a 12-year old Nigerian chess prodigy and his family.{{Cite news |title=Nigerian chess prodigy, 12, granted asylum in the United States |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/12/14/chess-prodigy-tani-adewumi-asylum/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |issn=0190-8286}}

Attorneys from Mayer Brown represented a group of migrants in 2021 and successfully argued that asylum seekers coming to U.S. ports of entry have rights under U.S. law that cannot be denied by preventing them from physically crossing the border.{{Cite news |last=Wiessner |first=Daniel |date=2021-09-03 |title=Judge says 'metering' of asylum applicants at border is illegal |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/judge-says-metering-asylum-applicants-border-is-illegal-2021-09-03/ |access-date=2023-06-02}}

Beginning in 2021, the firm led a coalition of 20 law firms and corporate legal departments working to evacuate nearly 150 Asian University for Women (AUW) students in Afghanistan and placing them at universities throughout the U.S. to continue their studies.{{Cite news |last=Kwai |first=Isabella |date=2021-08-30 |title=A university in Bangladesh evacuates almost 150 young women from Kabul. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/08/30/world/afghanistan-news |access-date=2023-06-02 |issn=0362-4331}}

Recognitions

  • Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023: ranked in 40 practice categories.[https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/news/2023/01/legal-500-asia-pacific-2023-ranks-mayer-brown-in-40-practice-categories-and-recognizes-36-lawyers], 16 January 2023.
  • 2023 City Bar Justice Center Award for commitment to promoting racial, social, and economic justice through philanthropy and pro bono legal work.{{Cite web |last=Keckley |first=Andrea |date=April 4, 2013 |title=Mayer Brown, BNY Mellon Honored For Pro Bono Work |url=https://www.law360.com/pulse/articles/1593469/mayer-brown-bny-mellon-honored-for-pro-bono-work |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.law360.com |language=en}}
  • IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2021: “Financial Services Regulatory Team of the Year” and "High-Yield Deal of the Year" Awards [https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/news/2021/03/mayer-brown-wins-two-awards-at-iflr-asia-pacific-awards-2021], 25 March 2021.
  • Received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Corporate Equality Index 2021|url=https://www.hrc.org/resources/corporate-equality-index|access-date=2021-04-12|publisher=Human Rights Campaign}}
  • 2020 Asia IP Awards: "Hong Kong Copyright Law Firm of the Year"[https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/news/2021/02/mayer-brown-named-hong-kong-copyright-law-firm-of-the-year-at-2020-asia-ip-awards], 4 February 2021.
  • The Law Society of Hong Kong's 2020 Pro Bono and Community Service Award: "Distinguished Pro Bono Law Firm Award" and "Silver Law Firm Award for Pro Bono" [https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/news/2020/12/mayer-brown-receives-distinguished-pro-bono-law-firm-award-and-silver-law-firm-award-for-pro-bono-in-2020], December 2020.
  • Law360 Firm of the Year 2016-2020{{Cite web|title=The Firms That Dominated In 2020 - Law360|url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1328993/the-firms-that-dominated-in-2020|access-date=2021-04-12|website=www.law360.com|language=en}} and Practices of the Year for: Appellate,{{cite news|title=Appellate Group Of The Year: Mayer Brown|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/-/media/files/news/2020/01/appellate-group-of-the-year-mayer-brown.pdf|via=Law360.com}} Banking,{{cite news|title=Banking Group Of The Year: Mayer Brown|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/-/media/files/perspectives-events/publications/2020/01/banking-practice-group-of-the-year-mayer-brown.pdf|via=law360.com}} Benefits,{{cite news|title=Benefits Group Of The Year: Mayer Brown|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/-/media/files/news/2020/02/benefits-group-of-the-year-mayer-brown.pdf|via=law360.com}} Consumer Protection,{{cite news|title=Consumer Protection Group Of The Year: Mayer Brown|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/-/media/files/news/2020/01/consumer-protection-group-of-the-year-mayer-brown.pdf|via=law360.com}} Environmental,{{Cite web|title=Environmental Group Of The Year: Mayer Brown|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/-/media/files/news/2020/01/environmental-group-of-the-year-mayer-brown.pdf|access-date=2021-04-12|website=law360.com}} Project Finance,{{cite news|title=Project Finance Group Of The Year: Mayer Brown|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/-/media/files/news/2020/01/project-finance-group-of-the-year-mayer-brown.pdf|via=law360.com}} Securitizations,{{Cite web|title=Securitizations Practice Group Of The Year: Mayer Brown|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/-/media/files/news/2020/02/securitizations-group-of-the-year-mayer-brown.pdf|access-date=2021-04-12|website=law360.com}} and Tax.{{cite news|title=Tax Group Of The Year: Mayer Brown|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/-/media/files/news/2020/01/tax-group-of-the-year-mayer-brown.pdf|via=law360.com}}
  • On Law360's "Global 20" 2019 list of law firms doing the most substantial, complex and diverse global work[https://www.mayerbrown.com/-/media/files/news/2019/08/global-20-mayer-brown.pdf "Law360.com"], retrieved April 12, 2021.
  • 34 top-tier national and 80 top-tier metropolitan Best Law Firms 2019 rankings[https://www.bestlawfirms.com/firms/mayer-brown/4067/US Best Law Firms] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104222704/http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/firmprofile.aspx?firm_id=4067&country=US|date=January 4, 2012}}, retrieved June 7, 2019.[https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/profile/mayer-brown-llp/rankings/4067]
  • Earned the highest overall scores in client service performance among law firms in the 2019 BTI Client Service 30.[https://www.bticonsulting.com/client-service-30-a-team-2019] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819183619/https://www.bticonsulting.com/client-service-30-a-team-2019|date=August 19, 2019}}[http://www.bticlientserviceateam.com/storage/BTI_Client_Service_A-Team_2013_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.pdf "BTIClientServiceaTeam.com"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921190333/http://www.bticlientserviceateam.com/storage/BTI_Client_Service_A-Team_2013_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.pdf|date=2013-09-21}}, retrieved June 7, 2019.
  • Received Private Equity, Projects & Energy and Real Estate deal of the year honors at the China Law & Practice Awards 2018.[https://www.event.law.com/legalweek-china-law-practice-awards/past-winners][http://www.chinalawandpractice.com/Article/3255184/Search/Freshfields-and-Fangda-triumph-at-CLP-awards.html?Keywords=CLP+Awards+2013&OrderType=0 "ChinaLawAndPractice.com"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211915/http://www.chinalawandpractice.com/Article/3255184/Search/Freshfields-and-Fangda-triumph-at-CLP-awards.html?Keywords=CLP+Awards+2013&OrderType=0|date=October 29, 2013}}, retrieved June 7, 2019.
  • Mayer Brown named Top Law Firm for Training Contracts and Vacation Schemes at AllAboutLaw Awards 2018{{Cite web|title=Mayer Brown named Top Law Firm for Training Contracts and Vacation Schemes at AllAboutLaw Awards 2018|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/news/2018/11/mayer-brown-named-top-law-firm-for-training-contra|access-date=2022-01-27|website=www.mayerbrown.com|language=en}}

Notable lawyers and alumni

Significant matters

Mayer Brown represented AT&T before the U.S. Supreme Court in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion.{{Cite web |title=Mayer Brown and AT&T reach unusual deal in tax overcharge settlement |url=https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/almID/1202551185610/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Daily Report |language=en}}

In Credit Suisse First Boston Ltd. v. Billing, the firm represented Credit Suisse{{Cite web |title=High Court Rules In Favor Of Banks In IPO Case - Law360 |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/27151/high-court-rules-in-favor-of-banks-in-ipo-case |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.law360.com |language=en}} in a precedent-setting case which determined that banks and mutual funds could not be sued under antitrust law over stock losses.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Mark H. |title=Court to Hear Cases on Securities Suits |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117457655361545554 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}

The firm represented Phillip Morris USA before the U.S. Supreme Court in Philip Morris USA v. Williams which held that a jury may not punish a defendant for injuries suffered by non-parties.{{Cite web |title=Supreme Court Remands Philip Morris Case - Law360 |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/19003/supreme-court-remands-philip-morris-case |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.law360.com |language=en}}

Mayer Brown represented Spokeo before the U.S. Supreme Court in Spokeo v. Robbins, a 2015 case with broad implications for class action suits.{{Cite web |title=Robins v. Spokeo, Inc., 867 F.3d 1108 |url=https://casetext.com/case/robins-v-spokeo-inc-1 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=casetext.com}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the firm advised Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC on a $6.8 billion financing for United Airlines MileagePlus loyalty program.{{Cite web |last=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |title=Term Loan Credit and Guaranty Agreement among Mileage Plus Holdings, LLC and Mileage Plus Intellectual Property Assets, Ltd., as Borrowers, and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. and United Airlines, Inc., as Parent Guarantors, |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/100517/000110465920080673/tm2024018d1_ex10-1.htm |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.sec.gov}}

Mayer Brown helped Citibank recover $500 million{{Cite web |title=Citi, Revlon Lenders Ink Deals Ending $500M Transfer Battle |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1559403/citi-revlon-lenders-ink-deals-ending-500m-transfer-battle |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.law360.com |language=en}} in mistakenly wired funds{{Cite web |title=2nd Circ. Gives Citi Win In $500M Revlon Wire Transfer Fight |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1528728/2nd-circ-gives-citi-win-in-500m-revlon-wire-transfer-fight |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.law360.com |language=en}} in a multi-year case that was resolved in 2022.{{Cite web |title=United States District Court Southern District of New York in re Citibank August 11, 2020 Wire Transfers |url=https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/20cv6539%20Citibank%20Opinion.pdf}}

The firm represented Nestle in $7.15 billion agreement with Starbucks Corporation for perpetual marketing and distribution rights of products including Starbucks, Seattle's Best Coffee, Starbucks Reserve, Teavana, Starbucks VIA and Torrefazione Italia.{{Cite web |title=TRANSACTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 6, 2018 BY AND BETWEEN STARBUCKS CORPORATION AND NESTLÉ S.A. |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/829224/000119312518154644/d555051dex21.htm |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.sec.gov}} The transaction was noted for its importance in expanding the business reach of both companies.{{Cite news |date=2019-12-10 |title=Ranking: Enabling Business Growth and Transformation |work=Financial Times |url=https://www-ft-com.ezp.lib.cam.ac.uk/content/b0b3b2f4-1a75-11ea-97df-cc63de1d73f4 |access-date=2023-05-24}}

Role in Refco Inc. collapse

Refco was a New York-based broker of commodities and futures contracts. In 2005, the company filed for bankruptcy after significant evidence of accounting fraud surfaced.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=acZKnl3HUyCM|title=Refco Files 4th-Largest Bankruptcy in U.S. History|website=Bloomberg News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023031340/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=acZKnl3HUyCM|url-status=live|archive-date=2013-10-23}} In the wake of the collapse, a lawsuit was filed in 2007 against Mayer Brown and one of its partners, Joseph Collins.{{Cite web |date=2007-10-02 |title=Refco Investors Sue Mayer Brown |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/refco-investors-sue-mayer-brown/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=DealBook |language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/refco_trustee_seeks_2_billion_from_mayer_brown_others/|title=Refco Trustee Seeks $2 Billion from Mayer Brown, Others|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012064022/http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/refco_trustee_seeks_2_billion_from_mayer_brown_others/|url-status=live|archive-date=2013-10-12}} In November 2012, Collins was found guilty on multiple charges of conspiracy and fraud for his role in preparing Refco's IPO.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/07/15/lawyer-sentenced-to-prison-for-role-in-24-billion-fraud-at-refco/|title=Lawyer sentenced to prison for role in $2.4 billion fraud at Refco|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012022525/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-07-15/business/sns-rt-us-usa-refco-collins-20130715_1_refco-fraud-refco-executives-phillip-bennett|url-status=live|archive-date=2013-10-12}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-19/refco-lawyer-a-o-mayer-brown-skadden-business-of-law.html|title=Refco Lawyer, A&O, Mayer Brown, Skadden: Business of Law|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=19 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023031429/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-19/refco-lawyer-a-o-mayer-brown-skadden-business-of-law.html|url-status=live|archive-date=2013-10-23}} Meyer Brown agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to settle legal claims that it "aided a $1.5 billion fraud scheme that produced a flurry of criminal convictions.”{{cite web|url=http://www.ringoffireradio.com/2013/07/settlement-reached-in-billion-dollar-fraud-scheme/|title=Settlement Reached in Billion-dollar Fraud Scheme|date=15 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012031107/http://www.ringoffireradio.com/2013/07/settlement-reached-in-billion-dollar-fraud-scheme/|url-status=live|archive-date=2013-10-12}}

Role in the removal of a Tiananmen Square massacre statue

In October 2021, Mayer Brown was hired by the University of Hong Kong to help remove a statue memorialising the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre from its campus.{{cite news|date=8 October 2021|title=Hong Kong university hires US law firm to seek Tiananmen statue's removal|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/feef8720-71b5-424b-8e4f-5d2525e358aa}} The statue, known as the Pillar of Shame, was on loan from its creator, Danish sculptor Jens Galschiøt,{{cite news |title=When removing a statue actually is antidemocratic |work=Vox |url=https://www.vox.com/2021/10/13/22722674/tiananmen-square-pillar-of-shame-university-hong-kong |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014000537/https://www.vox.com/2021/10/13/22722674/tiananmen-square-pillar-of-shame-university-hong-kong |archive-date=14 October 2021}} had been placed in the campus for more than 20 years.

The law firm issued a letter to Hong Kong Alliance,{{cite tweet|number=1446463655164383261|user=uffeelbaek|title=Danske medier og ikke mindst @JeppeKofod og @AneHalsboe: Er I opmærksom på, hvad der lige nu sker med @Galschiot sk…|archive-date=11 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011171319/https://twitter.com/uffeelbaek/status/1446463655164383261/photo/1|date=7 October 2021}} a pro-democracy organization which had erected the statue, requesting that that sculpture be removed. The request to remove the statue attracted global criticism.{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=David|date=October 13, 2021|title=Rights groups, U.S. senators blast Mayer Brown over Tiananmen statue|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/rights-groups-us-senators-blast-mayer-brown-over-tiananmen-statue-2021-10-13/|access-date=October 13, 2021}} Danish foreign minister Jeppe Kofod raised the matter with the Chinese government{{cite news|date=16 October 2021|title=Danish government raises concerns over University of Hong Kong's removal order for Pillar of Shame statue|work=South China Morning Post|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3152585/danish-government-raises-concerns-over-university-hong|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016075313/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3152585/danish-government-raises-concerns-over-university-hong|archive-date=16 October 2021|quote='For long, I have expressed my serious concern about developments in Hong Kong. And we ... have raised the matter [of the statue] in Beijing,' the country’s foreign minister Jeppe Kofod said in a statement first reported in Danish media.
'The freedom to express opinions peacefully – through speech, art or other means – is a fundamental right of all human beings. This goes for Hong Kong too.'}} while United States Senator Pat Toomey criticized the removal attempt as an attempt to "rewrite history".{{cite tweet|number=1448043801323483138|user=SenToomey|title=The CCP is further tightening its stranglehold over #HongKong. First they stripped Honk Kongers of their basic fr…|date=12 October 2021}} Galschiøt, the sculpture's creator, compared the law firm's handling to Italian mafia methods{{Cite web |date=2021-10-15 |title='Morally reprehensible' Mayer Brown works to suppress memory of Tiananmen Square massacre {{!}} RollOnFriday |url=https://www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/morally-reprehensible-mayer-brown-works-supress-memory-tiananmen-square-massacre |access-date=2023-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015162411/https://www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/morally-reprehensible-mayer-brown-works-supress-memory-tiananmen-square-massacre |archive-date=2021-10-15 |quote="I believe that Mayer Brown is morally and ethically responsible for helping to destroy the only mark of remembrance of the Tiananmen peace plan that exists on Chinese territory."}} and said, "I believe that Mayer Brown is morally and ethically responsible for helping to destroy the only mark of remembrance of the Tiananmen peace plan that exists on Chinese territory."

In response, the university defended its position by saying that the decision was based on “the latest risk assessment and legal advice”.{{cite news|date=9 October 2021|title=Hong Kong: University orders Tiananmen statue's removal|work=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58847650|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010080021/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58847650|archive-date=10 October 2021|quote=The university said the decision was "based on the latest risk assessment and legal advice" without expanding on this explanation.}} In a statement, Mayer Brown said, "We were asked to provide a specific service on a real estate matter for our long-term client, the University of Hong Kong... Our legal advice is not intended as commentary on current or historical events."{{cite news|title=A Hong Kong university orders the removal of a memorial to the Tiananmen massacre|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/13/1045574697/hong-kong-pillar-of-shame-tiananmen-sculpture-removal?t=1634198056803|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013160926/https://www.npr.org/2021/10/13/1045574697/hong-kong-pillar-of-shame-tiananmen-sculpture-removal|archive-date=13 October 2021|quote=The firm told Hong Kong Free Press that it was being retained "as outside counsel [to] help our clients understand and comply with current law."
"We were asked to provide a specific service on a real estate matter for our long-term client, the University of Hong Kong," the firm said. "Our legal advice is not intended as commentary on current or historical events."}} This response prompted the press and activists to draw comparisons with the law firm's reaction following the murder of George Floyd.{{Cite web|first=Candice |last=Chau|date=2021-10-13|title=University of Hong Kong told to contact Tiananmen Massacre statue artist as removal ultimatum nears, despite T8 typhoon|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/10/13/university-of-hong-kong-told-to-contact-tiananmen-massacre-statue-artist-as-removal-ultimatum-nears-despite-t8-typhoon/|access-date=2021-10-14|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB|quote=Previously the firm has commented on political events – namely the Black Lives Matter anti-racism protests in the US.}}{{cite news |date=13 October 2021 |title=Rights groups, U.S. senators blast Mayer Brown over Tiananmen statue |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/rights-groups-us-senators-blast-mayer-brown-over-tiananmen-statue-2021-10-13/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014031828/https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/rights-groups-us-senators-blast-mayer-brown-over-tiananmen-statue-2021-10-13/ |archive-date=14 October 2021 |quote="American firms should be ashamed to be complicit" in the statue's removal, Cruz told journalist Eli Lake in a Substack column published Wednesday. Graham in the article lamented that "American law firms are doing the bidding of the Communist Party." A spokesperson for Graham declined to comment further. Cruz's office did not respond to a request for comment.}} The firm had issued a statement following Floyd's murder in June 2020, that "[a]s members of the legal community, we bear a special and heightened responsibility. We understand that the rule of law requires that everyone, and especially those in power, be held accountable for their actions."{{cite news|date=1 June 2020|title=Statement from Mayer Brown on the Death of George Floyd|work=Mayer Brown|url=https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/news/2020/06/statement-from-mayer-brown-on-the-death-of-george-floyd|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012044927/https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/news/2020/06/statement-from-mayer-brown-on-the-death-of-george-floyd|archive-date=12 October 2021|quote=At Mayer Brown, our core values are grounded in the principle that every individual—each and every individual—is equally worthy of respect and appreciation. We recognize the value that diversity and inclusion bring to our business and to our communities and we have a corresponding responsibility to speak up when our core values are undermined.
As members of the legal community, we bear a special and heightened responsibility. We understand that the rule of law requires that everyone, and especially those in power, be held accountable for their actions. Those who failed to protect or even recognize George Floyd’s human rights should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Mayer Brown stands in solidarity with all who lawfully seek justice for those who have been denied their civil liberties and human rights, and particularly when that denial has such tragic and irreversible consequences.}}

Two days after the removal deadline set by the law firm, and while the sculpture was still in place despite the deadline had already passed, Mayer Brown confirmed that they would stop representing the university regarding the sculpture removal.{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Adam|date=15 October 2021|title=U.S. law firm Mayer Brown to cease work for Hong Kong University in dispute over Tiananmen memorial removal|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/10/15/mayer-brown-hku/}}

References

{{reflist}}

=Further reading=

  • {{cite news |last= Carlile |first= Nathan |date= July 27, 2007 |title=In a Time of Transition, Mayer Brown Looks to Its Trio of Leaders |url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=900005556456&In_a_Time_of_Transition_Mayer_Brown_Looks_to_Its_Trio_of_Leaders&slreturn=20131129152749 |newspaper=Legal Times |location= Washington, D.C.|publisher= ALM }}
  • {{cite journal |last=Longstreth |first= Andrew |date=November 2006 |title=Division Street |url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/PubArticleTAL.jsp?id=900005466148&%20&slreturn=20131129153050 |journal= The American Lawyer |location=New York |publisher=ALM |via= LexisNexis |url-access=subscription }} [http://www.lexis.com/xlink?&source=ALM;ALMPUB&searchtype=Boolean&view=Full&search=doc-id(%23900005466148%23) Alt URL]
  • {{cite magazine |last= Scheiber |first= Noam |author-link1=Noam Scheiber |date= July 21, 2013 |title= The Last Days of Big Law |url= https://newrepublic.com/article/113941/big-law-firms-trouble-when-money-dries|magazine= The New Republic}}

External links

  • [https://www.mayerbrown.com Official web site]
  • [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mayer-brown LinkedIn: Mayer Brown page]

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