Inventive in vision.
Invested in detail.
"From Day One, we had the goal and objective of a broader practice."
1945
Firm founded in Chicago
1945-1970
The Early Years
The firm cemented its pre-eminent position by building unparalleled depth of expertise in newly developing areas of the law. Beginning with our efforts to help draft the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, our firm earned a reputation for serving clients at the forefront of labor negotiations. Continuing this tradition over the years, the firm expanded its leadership position and invested time and effort into building expertise across areas of emerging risk for our clients that grew from labor arbitrations, pension administration, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and disability discrimination.
The Early Years
The firm cemented its pre-eminent position by building unparalleled depth of expertise in newly developing areas of the law. Beginning with our efforts to help draft the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, our firm earned a reputation for serving clients at the forefront of labor negotiations. Continuing this tradition over the years, the firm expanded its leadership position and invested time and effort into building expertise across areas of emerging risk for our clients that grew from labor arbitrations, pension administration, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and disability discrimination.
Midwest & Bicoastal
1971-1994
1971
Washington, DC office opens
"In 1971, we opened an office in Washington, DC, for two reason: First, we had substantial activity in the east and secondly, we believed that a large national law firm needs good contacts in the nation's Capital."
1973
Los Angeles office opens
1978
New York office opens
"In 1978, we opened the New York office, then having significant clients in the New York Daily News, The New York Times and The Publisher's Association of New York."
1984
San Francisco office opens
1990
Sacramento office opens
1971
Washington, DC office opens
"In 1971, we opened an office in Washington, DC, for two reason: First, we had substantial activity in the east and secondly, we believed that a large national law firm needs good contacts in the nation's Capital."
1973
Los Angeles office opens
1978
New York office opens
"In 1978, we opened the New York office, then having significant clients in the New York Daily News, The New York Times and The Publisher's Association of New York."
1984
San Francisco office opens
1990
Sacramento office opens
1971
Washington, DC office opens
"In 1971, we opened an office in Washington, DC, for two reason: First, we had substantial activity in the east and secondly, we believed that a large national law firm needs good contacts in the nation's Capital."
1973
Los Angeles office opens
1978
New York office opens
"In 1978, we opened the New York office, then having significant clients in the New York Daily News, The New York Times and The Publisher's Association of New York."
1984
San Francisco office opens
1990
Sacramento office opens
1995-2004
Sun Belt & New England
As the firm grew, our client base came to include many of the largest companies in the country and we developed one of the largest public sector practices in the nation.
To provide adequate geographic coverage to this clientele, we continued expanding into key business centers in the Sun Belt and in new England by opening our Houston office in 1995, our Atlanta office in 1996, and our Boston office in 1999. These expansion decisions established a strong national platform along with critical bases of operations in key growth regions of the country.
Sun Belt & New England
As the firm grew, our client base came to include many of the largest companies in the country and we developed one of the largest public sector practices in the nation.
To provide adequate geographic coverage to this clientele, we continued expanding into key business centers in the Sun Belt and in new England by opening our Houston office in 1995, our Atlanta office in 1996, and our Boston office in 1999. These expansion decisions established a strong national platform along with critical bases of operations in key growth regions of the country.
1995
Houston office opens
1996
Atlanta office opens
1999
Boston office opens
2000
McCullough Sherrill merger (Atlanta)
2001
Chappell White merger (Boston)
2003
D'Ancona & Pflaum merger (Chicago)
1995
Houston office opens
1996
Atlanta office opens
1999
Boston office opens
2000
McCullough Sherrill merger (Atlanta)
2001
Chappell White merger (Boston)
2003
D'Ancona & Pflaum merger (Chicago)
1995
Houston office opens
1996
Atlanta office opens
1999
Boston office opens
2000
McCullough Sherrill merger (Atlanta)
2001
Chappell White merger (Boston)
2003
D'Ancona & Pflaum merger (Chicago)
By 2005
National Footprint
In every instance, the firm took a deliberate and prudent approach to market entry by starting small, taking our time to learn about the market and building a client base in each city. From 2000 to 2003, the firm underwent a series of strategic mergers: McCullough Sherrill in 2000, Chappell White in 2001, and D’Ancona & Pflaum in 2003. These steps were critical to the diversification of the firm’s capabilities across Corporate, Litigation, and Real Estate, and expanded our ability to service clients in commercial real estate, financial services, insurance, pension funds, and venture capital.
National Footprint
In every instance, the firm took a deliberate and prudent approach to market entry by starting small, taking our time to learn about the market and building a client base in each city. From 2000 to 2003, the firm underwent a series of strategic mergers: McCullough Sherrill in 2000, Chappell White in 2001, and D’Ancona & Pflaum in 2003. These steps were critical to the diversification of the firm’s capabilities across Corporate, Litigation, and Real Estate, and expanded our ability to service clients in commercial real estate, financial services, insurance, pension funds, and venture capital.
2009-2013
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2009
Los Angeles downtown office opens
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2011
London office opens
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2013
Melbourne & Sydney
offices open -
2013
Shanghai office opens
By 2016
International Brand
Increasingly, our clients are global and they operate across borders. Recognizing the need to address our clients’ international needs, the firm set out to build a best-in-class international service capability. With our London office opening in 2011, followed by the launch of Shanghai, Melbourne, and Sydney in 2013, we have built a unique hub-and-spoke model that provides full coverage over key regional markets in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and APAC (Asia-Pacific). With focus on complex work in key practice areas, the international practice continues to build a cohort of highquality partners while building revenue and strengthening relationships with strategic clients of the firm.
International Brand
Increasingly, our clients are global and they operate across borders. Recognizing the need to address our clients’ international needs, the firm set out to build a best-in-class international service capability. With our London office opening in 2011, followed by the launch of Shanghai, Melbourne, and Sydney in 2013, we have built a unique hub-and-spoke model that provides full coverage over key regional markets in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and APAC (Asia-Pacific). With focus on complex work in key practice areas, the international practice continues to build a cohort of highquality partners while building revenue and strengthening relationships with strategic clients of the firm.2018-Present
2018: Hong Kong office officially opens
2018: Hong Kong office officially opens
2018: Hong Kong office officially opens
The Innovation Era
Seyfarth is the legal industry leader in finding a better way for lawyers and clients to work together. We began in 2005 by adapting Lean Six Sigma to meet the demands of legal practice in an approach we call SeyfarthLean. By 2011, we built a world-class team of multidisciplinary experts to bring SeyfarthLean to our clients, delivering legal and business solutions specific to their unique needs. Seeing the potential of technology to transform the way we work, we developed the Seyfarth Link platform as a launching pad for custom client solutions. Today, we are harnessing machine learning, robotic process automation and other emerging technologies to help us—and our clients—evolve into next-generation leaders in the delivery of legal services.
Seyfarth is the legal industry leader in finding a better way for lawyers and clients to work together. We began in 2005 by adapting Lean Six Sigma to meet the demands of legal practice in an approach we call SeyfarthLean. By 2011, we built a world-class team of multidisciplinary experts to bring SeyfarthLean to our clients, delivering legal and business solutions specific to their unique needs. Seeing the potential of technology to transform the way we work, we developed the Seyfarth Link platform as a launching pad for custom client solutions. Today, we are harnessing machine learning, robotic process automation and other emerging technologies to help us—and our clients—evolve into next-generation leaders in the delivery of legal services.
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2005
Seyfarth begins internal
Lean Six Sigma adoption;
SeyfarthLean is born -
2008
Seyfarth LPMO goes client facing
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2010
Seyfarth commits to firmwide Lean education
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2011
Lean client workshops, by popular demand
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2013
Seyfarth Link platform launched
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2013
SeyfarthLean Consulting is formed
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2013
Seyfarth named ILTA Innovative Law Firm of the Year for SeyfarthLean
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2013
Seyfarth awarded ILTA Innovative Project of the Year for Seyfarth Link
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2014
Seyfarth named ILTA Innovative Project of the Year for SeyfarthLean's SeytMap
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2015
SeyfarthLean projects recognized in Financial Times Innovative Lawyers report
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2016
SLC expands service capabilities
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2017
SLC launches Robotics Center of Excellence
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2017
Seyfarth wins ILTA's Innovative Firm of the Year Award
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2018
Seyfarth is the first firm to win two ACC Value Champion Awards in a single year
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2019
Clients name Seyfarth "Best of the Best" for technology in BTI survey
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2020
Financial Times honors Seyfarth for innovation for 10th consecutive year
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2021
Launch of "Pioneers and Pathfinders" podcast about people driving change in legal
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2022
Seyfarth recognized by ILTA at 2021 Distinguished Peer Awards
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2024
Seyfarth named a “Best of the Best Leading Edge Law Firm” by BTI for use of strategic innovation