Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

Infobox Law Firm
firm_name = Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates
firm_
headquarters =
num_offices = 23
num_attorneys = 2,000+ [http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/10/random_internal_email_of_the_d.php "Random Internal Email of the Day: Skadden Puts the Big in Big Law"] from abovethelaw.com]
num_employees = 4,500 (estimate)
practice_areas = Corporate, litigation, finance, international, regulatory/legislative, industry-related practices, employment issues and advice to individuals [ [http://www.skadden.com/index.cfm?contentID=4&viewType=1 Practices - Skadden, Arps] ]
revenue = ", May 2008 (free registration required)]
date_founded = April 1 1948
founder = Marshall Skadden, John Slate, and Les Arps
company_type = Limited liability partnership
homepage = [http://www.skadden.com www.skadden.com]

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates (a.k.a. "Skadden, Arps", "Skadden", or "SASM&F"), founded in 1948, is a prominent law firm based in New York City. With over 2,000 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the world. [http://www.law.com/jsp/tal/PubArticleTAL.jsp?hubtype=Cover+Story&id=1190745419711 "The Am Law Global 100"] from "The American Lawyer" May 2007 (free registration required)] In most jurisdictions, the firm is organized as a limited liability partnership (LLP). The firm's better-known alumni include former New York State Governor Elliot Spitzer. [http://www.ny.gov/governor/firstfamily/spitzerbio.html Eliot Spitzer biography from official New York State government web site] ]

ize

Ranking among law firms by revenue

With US$2.17 billion in annual revenue, Skadden is the largest law firm in the U.S. in terms of revenue. The firm has held this position for ten years running and in 1999 became the first law firm to exceed US$1 billion in annual revenue. Its revenue also makes Skadden the third largest law firm in the world, behind two U.K. firms.

Ranking among law firms by number of attorneys

Skadden has over 2,000 attorneys in 23 offices. The total number of employees is nearly 4,500. In terms of the number of attorneys, Skadden is the largest law firm in the state of New York, [ [http://www.nylawyer.com/adgifs/decisions/121205top100.pdf "NYLJ 100 Largest Private Law Offices in New York State"] from "New York Law Journal Magazine" December 2005 (PDF; free registration required)] the fifth largest in the United States, [ [http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1163066718029 2006 "The National Law Journal" 250] from law.com (free registration required)] and the eighth largest in the world. Skadden ranks 225th on "Forbes"'s list of the largest U.S.-based private companies. [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/21/biz_privates07_Skadden-Arps_B9G3.html Forbes Largest Private Companies 2007] from Forbes.com]

In 2007, the National Law Journal ranked Skadden 5th in its list of the 250 largest law firms in the United States.

Despite its size, Skadden has been distinguished by its refusal to expand by mergers with other law firms or large acquisitions of practice groups. The firm has never acquired a practice group larger than six attorneys, in sharp contrast with rivals such as Baker & McKenzie, which has repeatedly absorbed local practices, or DLA Piper and Clifford Chance, which are the products of large mergers (often across national and continental borders). Consequently, charges of varying quality between offices of comparable-sized firms have been countered by Skadden's assertion that it has controlled the selection and training of its attorneys to match its domestic reputation.

Ranking among all private U.S. companies by revenue

Skadden's ranking on "Forbes"'s list of America's Largest Private Companies consistently increased between 1995 and 2003 but fell from 2004 through 2006, with a one-place increase in 2007.

*2007 — 225th
*2006 — 226th [ [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/21/biz_06privates_Skadden,-Arps_B9G3.html Forbes Largest Private Companies 2006] ]
*2005 — 216th [ [http://images.forbes.com/lists/2005/21/B9G3.html Forbes Largest Private Companies 2005] ]
*2004 — 205th [ [http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/21/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=21&passYear=2004&passListType=Company&uniqueId=B9G3&datatype=Company Forbes Largest Private Companies 2004] ]
*2003 — 194th [ [http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/21/2003/LIR.jhtml?passListId=21&passYear=2003&passListType=Company&uniqueId=B9G3&datatype=Company Forbes Largest Private Companies 2003] ]
*2002 — 200th [ [http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/21/2002/LIR.jhtml?passListId=21&passYear=2002&passListType=Company&uniqueId=B9G3&datatype=Company Forbes Largest Private Companies 2002] ]
*2001 — 224th [ [http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/21/2001/LIR.jhtml?passListId=21&passYear=2001&passListType=Company&uniqueId=B9G3&datatype=Company Forbes Largest Private Companies 2001] ]
*2000 — 230th [ [http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/21/2000/LIR.jhtml?passListId=21&passYear=2000&passListType=Company&uniqueId=B9G3&datatype=Company Forbes Largest Private Companies 2000] ]
*1999 — 245th [ [http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/21/1999/LIR.jhtml?passListId=21&passYear=1999&passListType=Company&uniqueId=B9G3&datatype=Company Forbes Largest Private Companies 1999] ]
*1998 — 269th [ [http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/21/1998/LIR.jhtml?passListId=21&passYear=1998&passListType=Company&uniqueId=3083&datatype=Company Forbes Largest Private Companies 1998] ]
*1997 — 297th [ [http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/21/1997/LIR.jhtml?passListId=21&passYear=1997&passListType=Company&uniqueId=3083&datatype=Company Forbes Largest Private Companies 1997] ]
*1996 — 310th [http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/21/1996/LIR.jhtml?passListId=21&passYear=1996&passListType=Company&uniqueId=3083&datatype=Company Forbes Largest Private Companies 1996] ]
*1995 — 335th

Reputation

In addition to its headquarters in New York — the largest single law office in the U.S. — Skadden's domestic practice is particularly renowned in its Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston [ [http://www.vault.com/nr/lawrankings.jsp?law2008=4&ch_id=242&city=2 Vault Prestige rankings - Boston] ] and Washington, D.C., offices. Internationally, the firm also has particularly high-profile overseas practices in London, Frankfurt, Munich, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.

Famed for pioneering mergers and acquisitions (and hostile takeovers) in the American corporate environment, Skadden has played a significant role in U.S. and international business despite being far younger than many competing white shoe firms. Arguably the most recognizable law firm outside the legal industry, the firm is considered one of the most prestigious in the world, consistently ranking in the top five of Vault's annual list of the top law firms in the U.S. and boasting highly competitive foreign practices. The Skadden Fellowship, funded by the firm, is considered the most prestigious public-interest grant in the U.S. and is greatly sought-after by graduates of top law schools.

Among Skadden's main practice areas are mergers and acquisitions (M&A), litigation, securities law, taxation, and bankruptcy representation. The firm has counted a majority of the Fortune 500's top 50 companies as clients. Skadden has been selected for each of the past six years as the best corporate law firm in the U.S. according to a survey of 1,390 directors and 279 general counsel of publicly traded companies by Corporate Board Member magazine and FTI Consulting. [http://www.boardmember.com/about_us/release_061305.shtml "America's Best Corporate Law Firms"] from "Corporate Board Member Magazine" July/August 2006]

Although called a sweatshop by some, [ [http://www.vault.com/store/book_preview.jsp?product_id=418 Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom & Affiliates: Vault Career and Industry Guides] ] Skadden is also known for its generous attorney compensation. The salary for a first-year associate (i.e., fresh out of law school) is reported to be $160,000, not including the annual discretionary bonus. [ [http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1169632955951 "Skadden Bumps Up Associate Pay to $160,000"] from "Legal Times" January 25 2007]

Key people

Partners

As of May 2008, there are 470 partners at Skadden. [http://www.skadden.com/attorneys/ Skadden > Attorneys] ] Unlike some firms which have introduced two-tier partnerships with equity and non-equity partners, Skadden maintains a one-tier partnership, in which all partners are equity partners and share ownership of the firm. [http://www.skadden.com/content/sitefiles/Skadden_88A4B9FB5220CF7A8BC0A1AB8E3AD10D.pdf "How Skadden Does It"] , Andrew Longstreth, "The American Lawyer", May 2006] Among the more notable partners are:
*Joseph H. Flom became the firm's first associate in 1948. Of the firm's five "name" partners, Flom is the only one still living. He is recognized as a pioneer in the field of mergers and acquisitions. [ [http://www.skadden.com/attorneys/FlomJosephH/ Skadden > Joseph H. Flom] ]
*Robert C. Sheehan has held the position of Executive Partner, equivalent to a corporate chief executive officer (CEO), since 1994. [ [http://www.skadden.com/attorneys/SheehanRobertC/ Skadden > Robert C. Sheehan] ] He will step down when his third term ends in April 2009. [http://www.skadden.com/index.cfm?contentID=42&itemID=1059&varStartRow=1 Eric J. Friedman to Become Firm's Executive Partner in 2009] ] The firm has had only one other executive partner, Peter Mullen.
*Eric J. Friedman, a mergers and acquisitions partner in New York, will succeed Bob Sheehan as the firm's Executive Partner in April 2009.
*Roger S. Aaron is the senior partner in charge of all of the firm's corporate practice areas. [ [http://www.skadden.com/attorneys/AaronRogerS/ Skadden > Roger S. Aaron] ]
*William P. Frank is the firm's national litigation legal practice leader. [ [http://www.skadden.com/attorneys/FrankWilliamP/ Skadden > William P. Frank] ]
*Robert S. Bennett has been called "One of the top white-collar criminal and corporate defense attorneys in the country" in a "National Law Journal" article titled "The 100 most influential lawyers in America". [http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1150362315219 "The 100 most influential lawyers in America"] , "National Law Journal", June 19 2006] Bennett's clients have included Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones case and "New York Times" reporter Judith Miller in the CIA leak investigation.
*Sheila Birnbaum is considered one of the nation's leading experts on toxic tort law. She has been named by "Fortune" magazine as one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" [ [http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1998/10/12/249277/index.htm Ranking The 50 Most Powerful Women: Fortune's First Annual Look at the Women Who Most Influence Corporate America] "Fortune" October 12 1998] and by the "National Law Journal" as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America. [ [http://www.skadden.com/attorneys/BirnbaumSheilaL/ Skadden > Sheila L. Birnbaum] ]
*Bruce Buck, a partner based in London who oversees all European offices, is chairman of the Chelsea Football Club. [ [http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?article=103474&Title=Club+Information&lid=Navigation+-+The+Club&sub=Club+Information&nav=&sublid= The Official Chelsea FC Website — Club Information] ]
*Preeta D. Bansal, former New York State Solicitor General and current member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, heads the firm's appellate litigation and complex legal issues practice. [ [http://www.skadden.com/attorneys/BansalPreetaD/ Skadden > Preeta D. Bansal] ]
*Clifford (Mike) M. Naeve heads the firm's Energy Practice Group. [ [http://www.skadden.com/attorneys/NaeveCliffordMikeM/ Skadden > Clifford M. Mike Naeve] ]
*Paul Mitchard, a partner in the London office, is one of the few solicitors to be named Queen's Counsel, an honor typically granted to barristers. [ [http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1201169139687 "Skadden Partner Attains Queen's Counsel Rank: Paul Mitchard joins a small handful of attorneys at American firms to earn the top British honor"] , Richard Lloyd, "The American Lawyer", January 25 2008]

Of Counsel

"Of counsel" are retired partners who maintain professional ties with the firm. As of May 2008, the firm has 36 of counsel, including:
*Peter P. Mullen served as the firm's Executive Partner from 1981 to 1994. [ [http://www.skadden.com/attorneys/MullenPeterP/ Skadden > Peter P. Mullen] ]

Directors

Directors are non-attorneys who head the firm's support departments.
*Earle Yaffa is the Managing Director (the highest-ranking non-partner), a position he has held since 1980. [ [http://www.skadden.com/attorneys/YaffaEarle/ Skadden > Earle Yaffa] ]
*Carol A. Sawdye is a Senior Director.
*Laurel E. Henschel is a Senior Director and Chief Administrative Officer.
*Noah J. Puntus is the Chief Financial Officer.
*Harris Z. Tilevitz is Chief Technology Officer.
*Peter E. Lesser is Director of Global Technology.
*Jodie R. Garfinkel is the Director of Professional Personnel and Attorney Development
*Sally J. Feldman is the Director of Marketing and Business Development.
*Stephan J. Bell is the Director of Client Accounting.
*Neil McNally is the Director of Business/Practice Analysis and Support.

History

*1948 — The firm was founded in New York by Marshall Skadden, John Slate and Les Arps.
*1954 — Joseph Flom became a partner.
*1959 — Bill Meagher (pronounced "mar", not "mee-gur") joined the firm. Elizabeth Head, the firm's first female attorney, was hired.
*1961 — The firm's name became Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
*1973 — The firm opened its Boston office, the firm's second.
*1981 — Peggy Kerr became the first female partner.
*1985 — Skadden became one of the U.S.'s three largest law firms.
*1987 — The firm opened its first international office in Tokyo.
*1988 — The firm founded the Skadden Fellowship Foundation.
*2000 — New York City headquarters moved to Four Times Square, also called the Condé Nast Building.

Locations

Skadden has 24 offices. The number in parentheses indicates the year the office opened.

North America

United States of America

*New York, New York (1948) (headquarters)
**White Plains, New York (administrative extension of headquarters with no attorneys)
*Boston, Massachusetts (1973)
*Chicago, Illinois (1984)
*Houston, Texas (1993)
*Los Angeles, California (1983)
*Palo Alto, California (1998)
*San Francisco, California (1987)
*Washington, D.C. (1975)
*Wilmington, Delaware (1979)

Canada

*Toronto, Ontario (1990)

outh America

*São Paulo, Brazil (2008; announced) [ [http://www.thelawyer.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=131787&d=415&h=417&f=416 "Skadden set to launch in Brazil"] , Matt Byrne, TheLawyer.com, March 18 2008] [ [http://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1107529/Expansive+Skadden+set+for+Sao+Paulo+launch.html "Expansive Skadden set for Sao Paulo launch"] , Sofia Lind, legalweek.com, March 18 2008]

Europe

*Brussels, Belgium (1990)
*Frankfurt, Germany (1990)
*London, England (1988) — officially, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
*Moscow, Russia (1992)
*Munich, Germany (2004)
*Paris, France (1990)
*Vienna, Austria (2001) — officially, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Europe) LLP

Asia

*Beijing, China (1991)
*Hong Kong, China (1989) — general partnership, not LLP
*Singapore (1996) — general partnership, not LLP
*Shanghai, China (2008) [ [http://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1096410/Skadden+builds+in+Asia+with+Shanghai+debut.html "Skadden builds in Asia with Shanghai debut"] , by Sofia Lind, "Legal Week", February 14 2008]
*Tokyo, Japan (1987) — Skadden Arps Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi Jimusho; Skadden Arps Law Office; Skadden Arps Foreign Law Office (Registered Associated Offices)

Australia

*Sydney, Australia (1989) — general partnership, not LLP

Closed offices

Former firm offices no longer in operation include
* Newark, New Jersey, United States — closed June 2004
* Reston, Virginia, United States — 2002–October 2003

Practice areas

The firm specializes in the following areas of law: [ [http://www.skadden.com/index.cfm?contentID=4&viewType=0 Practices - Skadden, Arps] ]
*Alternative dispute resolution
*Antitrust
*Appellate litigation and legal issues
*Asia
*Australia and New Zealand
*Banking and institutional investing
*Brazil
*Canada
*China
*Communications
*Complex mass torts and insurance litigation
*Consumer financial services enforcement and litigation
*Corporate
*Corporation compliance programs
*Corporate finance
*Corporate governance
*Corporate restructuring
*Derivative financial products, commodities and futures
*Employee benefits and executive compensation
*Energy project finance and development
*Energy regulatory
*Environmental
*Environmental (international)
*Environmental litigation
*Europe
*European Union/International Competition
*Financial institutions
*Financial services
*Gaming
*Government contract disputes
*Government enforcement litigation
*Health care
*Health care enforcement and litigation
*Health care fraud and abuse
*Hong Kong law
*India
*Information technology and e-commerce
*Insurance
*Intellectual property and technology
*International arbitration
*International law and policy
*International tax
*International trade
*Investment management
*Israel
*Italy
*Japan
*Labor and employment law
*Latin America
*Lease financing
*Life sciences
*Litigation
*Mergers and acquisitions
*Outsourcing
*Patent and technology litigation and counseling
*Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device licensing
*Political law
*Private equity
*Private investment funds
*Pro bono
*Public policy
*Real estate
*Real estate investment trusts
*Russia and CIS
*Securities enforcement and compliance
*Sports
*Structured finance
*Tax
*Tax controversy and litigation
*Trademark, copyright, and advertising litigation and counseling
*Trusts and estates
*UCC and secured transactions
*Utilities mergers and acquisitions
*White collar crime

Notable deals and cases

*The firm participated in the RJR Nabisco buyout, orchestrated by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. the largest such deal in history, adjusted for inflation. Partner Peter Atkins led the Skadden team, which advised the RJR board of directors as to the financial soundness of the respective bids. Skadden's fee at the time was reported to be $25 million.
*Scott Simpson leads the European M&A division from London and has represented Gucci Group and Arcelor during their attempts to repel high-profile hostile takeovers.
*Jay Kasner and Preeta D. Bansal represented Merrill Lynch before the Supreme Court in "Merrill Lynch v. Dabit".
*Tokyo partner Nobuhisa Ishizuka represented the U.S. side of the merger between Squaresoft and Enix, the largest in the Japanese electronic gaming industry.Fact|date=May 2008
*Gregory Miao and Jon Christianson of the Hong Kong office led the IPO of the China Construction Bank, the largest of 2005.
*The firm currently represents XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc., in its approximately $13 billion tax-free merger-of-equals with Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc.
*The firm represented Yahoo! in its proposed takeover by Microsoft. [ [http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/pondering-microsofts-options/ "Pondering Microsoft’s Options"] , Steven M. Davidoff, "The New York Times", March 5 2008]
*The firm represented Bear Stearns in its $2-per-share acquisition by JPMorgan Chase in March 2008. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/18/cnbear218.xml "Wall Street burns the midnight oil to save stricken Bear Stearns"] , James Quinn, Telegraph.co.uk, March 19 2008]

Recognition and rankings

*Chambers and Partners selected Skadden as the Global Corporate law Firm of the Year for 2006. [ [http://www.chambersandpartners.com/img/awards/GlobalAwards2006.pdf The World's Leading Lawyers] from www.chambersandpartners.com]
*In 2006, "Corporate Board Member Magazine" named Skadden the top corporate law firm in America, as selected by 1,390 directors of publicly traded companies. Skadden has held the top slot for six years.
*Vault, Inc. ranked Skadden fourth on its "Top 100 Most Prestigious Firms – 2008", a survey which asked law firm associates to rank the prestige of various firms. The Vault survey also ranked nine of Skadden's individual practice areas among the nation's ten best: Antitrust (tie, 4th); Bankruptcy (3rd); Corporate (3rd); International Law (8th); Litigation (5th); Mergers & Acquisitions (2nd); Real Estate (3rd); Securities (3rd); Tax (2nd). [ [http://www.vault.com/nr/lawrankings.jsp?law2008=2&ch_id=242&top100=1 Law Firm Rankings: The Vault Top 100 Law Firms ] ]
*For 2007, Skadden was ranked #9 on the Avery Index list of the Best Prestigious Law Firms to Work For. [http://www.averyindex.com/2007_best_work_prestigious.php "AveryIndex: The Best Prestigious Firms to Work For"] ]
*In the 2006 edition of Chambers USA, 147 Skadden attorneys are highlighted as leading lawyers - more attorneys than at any other firm.
*According to Thomson Financial's third-quarter 2006 M&A Legal league tables, Skadden ranked first by value for worldwide announced deals.
*Skadden was named "Global Law Firm of the Year" and "USA Corporate/M&A Law Firm of the Year" at the Chambers and Partners annual dinner on May 19 in London.
*Skadden ranked first by volume and deal count in representing issuers of U.S. High Yield Offerings, with 10 deals worth US$5 billion, according to Bloomberg's Q3 2006 Legal Adviser League Tables published in October 2006.
*The firm was nominated as the best U.S. trainer (amongst U.S. Law firms based in London, England) for trainee solicitors by LawCareers.net.

kadden Fellowship Foundation

Through the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, the firm sponsors law school graduates who wish to practice public interest law. The foundation was established in 1988 at the time of the firm's 40th anniversary. The "Los Angeles Times" has called the program "a legal Peace Corps." [http://www.skaddenfellowships.org/sitecontent.cfm?page=about Skadden Fellowship Foundation: About the Foundation] ] Fellows work with a sponsoring organization in the field of providing legal services to the poor, the elderly, the homeless, the disabled, and the disenfranchised. Skadden pays fellows a salary of $46,000 (as of 2006), plus all fringe benefits the sponsoring organization offers its employees. As of 2006, the firm has awarded 473 fellowships.

Notable alumni

In addition to numerous professors and partners, both at Skadden and other firms, some of the more notable former Skadden attorneys include:
*Eliot Spitzer, former Governor of the State of New York, and his wife, Silda Wall Spitzer [ [http://www.ny.gov/governor/firstfamily/sildabio.html Silda Wall Spitzer biography from official New York State government web site] ]
*Leo Strine, Vice Chancellor, Delaware Court of Chancery
*Mark Weldon, Chief Executive Officer, NZX - the New Zealand Stock Exchange
*Laura Ingraham, conservative talk radio host
*Chad S. Johnson, former President of the Stonewall Democrats
*Faryar Shirzad, Managing Director and Global Head of Government Affairs at Goldman Sachs [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faryar_Shirzad]
*Keith Gottfried, General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
*John Feerick, former Dean of Fordham University School of Law
*Robert Del Tufo, former New Jersey Attorney General
*Douglas Rediker, co-director of The New America Foundation's Global Strategic Finance Initiative

Controversies, scandals, and entanglements

kadden Insider

The Skadden Insider was a fairly innocuous blog, with few posts and little revelation. The blog is purportedly operated by two associates of the firm, as yet anonymous. The Skadden Insider was little known until the operators decided to conduct a poll to crown the hottest female associate, with the hottest male associates, female partners, male partners, and summer associates to be selected in subsequent months. The blog's contest became very public after a memo to all of Skadden's U.S. attorneys from firm of counsel and employment advisor Hank Baer was leaked to the media. [ [http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2008/02/12/skadden-insider-hot-or-not/?mod=googlenews_wsj Skadden Insider: Hot or Not?] , Dan Slater, "The Wall Street Journal" (Law Blog), February 12 2008] [ [http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/daily-brief/2008/02/13/hot-or-not-law-firm-edition "Hot or Not: Law Firm Edition"] , Karen Donovan, Condé Nast's Portfolio.com, February 13 2008] [ [http://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1095141/Skadden+red-faced+after+'hottest+lawyer'+row.html "Skadden red-faced after 'hottest lawyer' row"] , Brian Baxter, "Legal Week", February 12 2008] [ [http://www.forbes.com/leadership/2008/02/13/skadden-employees-appearance-lead-careers-cx_tw_0213attractive.html "Hot Or Not?"] , Tara Weiss, "Forbes", February 13 2008] In the memo, Baer chastised the "insiders" for not upholding the firm's values and professionalism.

Mark L. Bronson

Mark L. Bronson, a real estate partner in Skadden's Tokyo office, died on November 21 2007, at Brisbane airport in Australia. Bronson suffered a seizure while being detained by customs officials on suspicion of cocaine possession. He had been stopped after drug-sniffing dogs raised suspicion. He reportedly also coughed up plastic in his vomit, suggesting he may have ingested a bag of cocaine to avoid being caught. [ [http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1196725630873 "Skadden Partner Dies After Drug Search"] , Attila Berry, "Legal Times", December 4 2007] [ [http://www.abajournal.com/news/skadden_partner_dies_following_airport_drug_search/ "Skadden Partner Dies After Airport Drug Search"] , Debra Cassens Weiss, "ABA Journal", December 4 2007]

Political contributions

Skadden partners and employees tend to support and contribute more to Democratic political candidates than to Republicans. [ [http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=emp&employer=SKADDEN*&search=Search "Fundrace 2008 Campaign Donations] , Huffington Post]

Prominent lawyers at the firm endorsed and financially supported John Kerry in his campaign to become president of the United States in 2004. [ [http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_15/b3878044.htm "The New Fat Cats"] from "Business Week" Online April 12 2004] [ [http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/05/Business/Business_leaders_for_.shtml "Business leaders for Kerry"] from "St. Petersburg Times" August 5 2004]

In the run-up to Super Tuesday, 2008, Skadden hosted a phone bank in support of Barack Obama. [ [http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/organizing/4rz4h Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Event | Times Square Phone Bank] ] [ [http://newyork.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/organizing/4rh3l Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Event | Times Square Phone Bank - LAST PUSH] ]

ee also

*Thomson Financial League Tables

Further reading

*cite book
last=Caplan
first=Lincoln
year=1993
title=Skadden: Power, Money, and the Rise of a Legal Empire
location=New York
publisher=Farrar Straus Giroux
id=ISBN 0-374-26566-6

* [http://www.skadden.com/content/sitefiles/Skadden_88A4B9FB5220CF7A8BC0A1AB8E3AD10D.pdf "How Skadden Does It"] , Andrew Longstreth, "The American Lawyer", May 2006.

External links

* [http://www.skadden.com/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates Web Site]
* [http://www.skaddenfellowships.org/ Skadden Fellowship Foundation]
* [http://www.martindale.com/xp/Martindale/Lawyer_Locator/Search_Lawyer_Locator/alm_info.xml?alm_id=279&flid=503480 American Lawyer Media rankings]
* [http://www.lawperiscope.com/profiles/225.html LawPeriscope Profile]
* [http://www.hoovers.com/skadden,-arps/--ID__41499--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml Hoover's Profile]
* [http://www.vault.com/companies/company_main.jsp?co_page=1&product_id=418&ch_id=242 Vault Profile]
* [http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/41/41499.html Yahoo! Finance Profile]
* [http://www.legal500.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1136&l5country_code=usv1_ma&l5directory=us500&Itemid=600#legal500_html/us500/firms/b50490.htm/ The Legal 500 US Rankings]
* [http://skaddeninsider.blogspot.com/ Skadden Insider] blog

References