Ever wondered what makes Perkins Coie a standout in the legal world? Founded in 1912, this Seattle-based law firm has grown into a global powerhouse with over 1,000 lawyers and 21 offices across the United States, Asia, and Europe. Representing giants like Boeing, Microsoft, and Amazon, Perkins Coie excels in various practice areas, including technology, intellectual property, and environmental law. With nearly $800 million in annual revenue, the firm is also known for its community involvement and employee satisfaction, having been named one of Fortune magazine’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’ for 22 consecutive years. Dive into these 45 fascinating facts to learn more about Perkins Coie's impressive journey and achievements.
Perkins Coie: A Century of Excellence
Perkins Coie has been a cornerstone in the legal world for over a century. From its humble beginnings to becoming a global powerhouse, the firm has a rich history and a promising future.
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Headquarters: Perkins Coie is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, anchoring its significant presence in the Pacific Northwest.
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Number of Offices: The firm operates from 21 offices across the United States, Asia, and Europe, ensuring a broad reach.
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Number of Lawyers: As of 2024, Perkins Coie boasts more than 1,000 lawyers, making it a formidable force in the legal industry.
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Revenue: The firm’s total annual revenue is nearly $800 million, reflecting its success and client trust.
A Rich History
Perkins Coie’s journey began over a century ago, and its growth has been nothing short of remarkable.
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History: Founded in 1912, Perkins Coie has been a major player in the legal industry for over a century.
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Early Boost: The firm received an important early boost when William Boeing, founder of Boeing Company, selected Perkins Coie to represent his growing aircraft construction enterprise.
Major Clients and Leadership
Perkins Coie’s client list reads like a who’s who of global corporations, and its leadership has guided the firm to new heights.
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Major Clients: Perkins Coie represents some of the world’s largest corporations, including Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Twitter.
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Managing Partner: Attorney John Devaney became the firm-wide managing partner (de facto CEO) on January 1, 2015.
Diverse Practice Areas
The firm’s expertise spans a wide range of legal fields, ensuring comprehensive service for its clients.
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Practice Areas: The firm’s practice areas include business, commercial litigation, intellectual property, environment, energy, labor and employment, real estate, personal planning, product liability, and political law.
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Technology Expertise: Perkins Coie is known for its expertise in the technology sector, assisting clients in navigating technological and economic disruptions.
Privacy, Data Security, and Environmental Law
Perkins Coie excels in areas critical to modern businesses, such as privacy, data security, and environmental law.
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Privacy & Data Security: The firm is recognized for its nationwide work in privacy and data security, with special tips of the hat going to its antitrust, corporate/M&A, IP, and litigation practices.
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Environmental Law: Perkins Coie has a significant presence in environmental law, with over 80 attorneys working in nearly every facet of the energy sector.
Energy Sector Involvement
The firm’s involvement in the energy sector is extensive, from transactions to regulatory matters.
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Energy Transactions: The firm helps clients structure and negotiate all aspects of energy transactions, including renewable energy projects.
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FERC Involvement: Perkins Coie is actively involved in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) matters, providing updates on FERC meeting agendas and summaries of key decisions.
Community and Industry Recognition
Perkins Coie’s commitment to community involvement and excellence has earned it numerous awards and recognitions.
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Community Involvement: Despite being a national firm, Perkins Coie emphasizes its commitment to community involvement, with associates highlighting the importance of being part of both local and national initiatives.
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Awards and Recognition: In 2024, 388 of the firm’s lawyers were listed among the ‘Best Lawyers in America’, with 30 lawyers named ‘Lawyer of the Year’. The firm was also named ‘Law Firm of the Year’ in technology and ‘Environment Law Firm of the Year’ in 2023.
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Fortune 500: Perkins Coie has been named one of Fortune magazine’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’ for 22 consecutive years, reflecting its commitment to employee satisfaction and well-being.
Client Service and Thought Leadership
Perkins Coie is known for its exceptional client service and thought leadership in the legal industry.
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Client Service: The firm is known for providing high-value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to clients’ success.
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Thought Leadership: Perkins Coie offers a range of thought leadership through press releases, blogs, updates, publications, and media coverage, focusing on legal and business trends.
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Blogs and Podcasts: The firm maintains 20 blogs that provide timely information and insights on various topics affecting businesses, including virtual currencies, consumer finance, food litigation, and privacy law. Additionally, it offers a series of legal podcasts discussing insurance coverage, virtual mediation, white collar defense, and innovative patent strategies.
Community Engagement and Intellectual Property
Perkins Coie’s involvement in community events and its focus on intellectual property law highlight its diverse capabilities.
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Community Engagement: Perkins Coie has been involved in various community events, such as sponsoring the 2022 Seattle Art Fair and presenting at the 2022 Guangdong Overseas IP Protection Training Program.
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Intellectual Property Focus: The firm has a strong focus on intellectual property law, with attorneys working to develop comprehensive solutions to complicated IP issues at all stages of company growth.
Sponsorships and Political Law Practice
The firm’s sponsorships and political law practice demonstrate its influence and reach in various sectors.
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Trade Secrets Strategy: Perkins Coie sponsors events like IAM Live: Trade Secrets Strategy USA, which brings together leading experts to provide actionable insights into the identification, management, valuation, enforcement, and monetization of trade secrets.
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IPO Annual Meeting: The firm sponsors the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) Annual Meeting, which brings together IP professionals from around the world to discuss strategies, trends, and best practices.
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Rocky Mountain IP Conference: Perkins Coie is a presenting sponsor of the Rocky Mountain Intellectual Property & Technology Law Institute, focusing on topics such as Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs) licensing and their implications.
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Political Law Practice: Perkins Coie has a political law practice that serves Democratic and left-of-center political candidates and non-profit clients. The firm received at least $26 million for legal fees and related expenses during the 2016 election cycle for representing the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Hillary for America committee, and other Democratic-aligned political campaign committees and advocacy organizations.
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George Soros Donation: In 2018, billionaire left-wing donor George Soros gave $5 million to Perkins Coie so the political law practice could file lawsuits to eliminate mandatory voter identification requirements and other state regulations left-of-center activists argue depress turnout among left-leaning constituencies.
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Marc Elias Controversy: Marc Elias, the former chair of the political law practice, was a central figure in the controversy regarding the creation, veracity, and subsequent handling of a document that alleges the existence of conspiracies between the Russian government and persons associated with the presidential campaign of Donald Trump. During April of 2016 Elias paid opposition research firm Fusion GPS to investigate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump on behalf of the Hillary Clinton campaign and the DNC.
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Facebook Representation: The political law group has also represented Facebook before the Federal Election Commission in the social media giant’s effort to obtain an exemption for paid political campaign advertisements shown on its platform from a requirement to disclose the source of payment.
Legal Fees and Client Base
Perkins Coie’s political law practice has received significant funding, and its client base is diverse.
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Legal Fees: The firm’s political law practice has received significant funding for its activities, including a $5 million donation from George Soros in 2018.
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Client Base: Perkins Coie represents a diverse range of clients, from major corporations like Boeing and Microsoft to political organizations and advocacy groups.
Leadership and Collaborations
The firm’s leadership and collaborations have played a crucial role in its success.
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Managing Partners: The firm has had several managing partners over the years, including John Devaney, who became the firm-wide managing partner in 2015.
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Partnerships and Collaborations: Perkins Coie has collaborated with various organizations and firms, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO).
Publications, Speaking Engagements, and Sponsorships
Perkins Coie’s publications, speaking engagements, and sponsorships highlight its commitment to staying at the forefront of legal and business trends.
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Publications and Resources: The firm provides a wealth of publications and resources on various legal topics, including energy law, intellectual property, and commercial litigation.
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Speaking Engagements: Perkins Coie lawyers frequently participate in speaking engagements and conferences, such as the EDTX Bench Bar Conference, IAM Live: Trade Secrets Strategy USA, and the IPO Annual Meeting.
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Sponsorships: The firm sponsors numerous events and conferences, demonstrating its commitment to staying at the forefront of legal and business trends.
Employee Satisfaction and Global Reach
Perkins Coie’s commitment to employee satisfaction and its global reach make it a standout firm.
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Community Involvement: Beyond legal work, Perkins Coie engages in community activities such as sponsoring the Seattle Art Fair and participating in IP protection training programs.
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Employee Satisfaction: The firm’s commitment to employee satisfaction is evident in its recognition as one of Fortune magazine’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’ for 22 consecutive years.
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Diverse Practice Areas: Perkins Coie offers a diverse range of practice areas, ensuring that clients can find specialized expertise across various legal fields.
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Global Reach: With offices in the United States, Asia, and Europe, Perkins Coie provides global legal services to clients operating in multiple jurisdictions.
Client-Centric Approach and Thought Leadership
Perkins Coie’s client-centric approach and thought leadership initiatives set it apart in the legal industry.
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Client-Centric Approach: The firm emphasizes a client-centric approach, ensuring that clients receive high-value, strategic solutions tailored to their specific needs.
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Thought Leadership Initiatives: Perkins Coie engages in various thought leadership initiatives through its blogs, podcasts, and publications, providing timely insights on legal and business trends.
Industry Recognition and Legal Expertise
Perkins Coie’s industry recognition and legal expertise underscore its commitment to excellence.
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Industry Recognition: The firm has received numerous industry recognitions, including being named ‘Law Firm of the Year’ in technology and ‘Environment Law Firm of the Year’ in 2023.
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Legal Expertise: Perkins Coie boasts a team of highly experienced lawyers who are recognized for their expertise in various legal fields, including technology, intellectual property, and environmental law.
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Commitment to Excellence: The firm’s commitment to excellence is evident in its continuous efforts to stay at the forefront of legal and business trends, providing exceptional client service and strategic solutions to clients worldwide.
Perkins Coie: A Legal Powerhouse
Perkins Coie stands out as a top-tier law firm with over a century of experience. Headquartered in Seattle, it boasts 21 offices globally and employs more than 1,000 lawyers. The firm’s annual revenue nears $800 million, reflecting its significant impact. Representing giants like Boeing, Microsoft, and Amazon, Perkins Coie excels in technology, intellectual property, and environmental law. Its commitment to community involvement and employee satisfaction is evident, having been named one of Fortune’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’ for 22 years. The firm’s political law practice has also played a crucial role in major political campaigns. With a client-centric approach and a focus on thought leadership, Perkins Coie continues to provide strategic solutions and exceptional service. This blend of expertise, dedication, and innovation cements its status as a legal powerhouse.
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