Bryan Cave
Encyclopedia
Bryan Cave LLP is an international law firm
with twenty-one offices worldwide, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri
, USA
.
Bryan Cave LLP dates back to 1873 in St. Louis. Founded in 1873 in St. Louis as King, Phillips and Stewart, the firm became Stewart, Bryan, Christie and Williams through a merger in 1911. It is that Bryan who would take top billing in the firm name in 1916, a place of honor he still holds nearly a century later. When Rhodes Cave joined in 1917, the firm took on the name Bryan, Williams and Cave and the Cave became part of the name which is still retained today. In fact, Bryan Cave has long been nicknamed "The Cave" first by young lawyers (as a metaphor for the typical long hours and cave-like working conditions of associates at "The Cave", as were typical at most large firms)and then by paralegals and administrative staff, many who are typically "on-call" 24/7. Today, the firm is actually known for reasonable associate working hours. "The Cave" has a diversified world-wide legal practice, but is best known for representing large corporations in and around St. Louis, and for being well-connected politically.Bryan Cave lawyers include former U.S. Senators. John Danforth
and Alan Dixon, and former New York
Mayor
Ed Koch
. The firm represents a wide variety of business
, financial
, institutional and individual
clients, including publicly held multinational corporations, large and mid-sized privately held companies, partnerships and emerging companies. Bryan Cave represented McDonnell Douglas Aircraft from its founding throughout that company's existence and since its purchase by Boeing
, has represented Boeing. Employing a combination of expansion, foreign alliances and domestic mergers, Bryan Cave has established itself in the 21st century as an ambitious upstart on the global scene while retaining its historic ties to the Show-Me State. Bryan Cave is recognized as a leader and innovator in law firm technology
, which was developed out of necessity as Bryan Cave has steadily grown in size and number of offices. The Cave now employs more than 1,000 lawyer
s and consulting professionals in 21 offices in America, Europe and Asia.
Its lawyers work in client teams either specific to an area of law or directed toward certain industries. The Cave's chairman,Don Lents who works from the St. Louis office, notes, “It is my sense that there is a growing focus on client teams and the need for such teams to be front and center in the thinking of firms.” Members of these groups are drawn from various disciplines and offices located around the globe. The firm’s computer and communication technology resources allow these lawyers to work closely together without regard to geographic location. Mr. Lents has served for a number of years as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and previously served as head of the firm’s Transactions Practice and chair of the Corporate Department. He also was the partner in charge of the firm’s London office from its opening in 1982 through 1984.
arrangements being termed "multi-disciplinary practices. As a trade and customs consultancy based in Asia
, Bryan Cave International Consulting (BCIC) has provided advisory and advocacy services to multinational clients in the IT
/electronics
, automotive, agricultural, logistics
, chemicals and other industries on a range of customs, trade and investment matters. BCIC is a consulting firm of non-lawyer professionals and a wholly owned affiliate of Bryan Cave LLP.
Chicago
Dallas Edwardsville, IL Irvine Jefferson City Kansas City
Los Angeles New York
Overland Park, KS Phoenix
San Francisco St. Louis Washington, D.C.
In 1911, a merger resulted in Stewart, Bryan, Christie & Williams. In 1916, P. Taylor Bryan’s name became first in the firm title – where it remains to this day. Rhodes Cave joined the firm in 1917. It then became Bryan, Williams & Cave.
The firm took on as a client a “poor Scotsman with just a little ‘bitty’ aviation company” in 1939. That little company was McDonnell Aircraft Company, now The Boeing Company, which the firm has served since.
As it began its second 100 years, Bryan Cave had become a strong regional law firm with 52 lawyers in St. Louis. Creation of executive committee and managing partner positions in 1973 revolutionized how the firm handled its “law business.”
In 1978, Bryan Cave began to spread its geographic footprint. Its first office outside St. Louis opened in Washington, D.C.
, to enhance a growing legislative practice. Offices in Los Angeles
and New York
followed.
In 1980, the firm established an international presence by opening a branch office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to handle business transactions in the Middle East
. In 1982, the firm opened its London
office. The firm soon began expansion to the west and southwest in the U.S. with offices opening in Phoenix
(1987) and Kansas City
(1988). An Asia
presence was established when the firm opened offices in Hong Kong
(1994) and Shanghai
(1996)to serve clients with Chinese legal needs. The Chicago
office opened in 2001.
In 1993, Bryan Cave was chosen to represent the government of Kuwait
in the preparation, submission and prosecution of its claims of more than $100 billion against the state of Iraq
arising out of the invasion and occupation of Kuwait.
Bryan Cave and New York-based Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn & Berman merged in 2002.
The firm established an office in 2004 across the street from the very active Madison County, IL courthouse in Edwardsville, IL to serve southern Illinois and especially to assist clients defending against class action, product liability and commercial litigation matters in Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois
, which are well known as plaintiff-friendly venues for suits against large companies.
Bryan Cave International Consulting LLC was formed by the firm as Bryan Cave International Trade LLC in 2005, based in Asia, to expand Bryan Cave’s international trade-related services. BCIT was rebranded as BCIC in 2011 to reflect the expanded depth of resources and services available through the subsidiary.
In 2005 Bryan Cave lost its Riyadh and Dubai offices to the Houston, Texas based mega-firm Fullbright & Jaworski, but retained its office in Kuwait.
Bryan Cave recovered from that setback and continued to expand its global footprint in 2007 when it opened an office in Hamburg
and Milan
. The next year, 2008, it expanded in the European Union
with the opening of a Paris
office. 2008 also was the year the firm opened an office in San Francisco.
In 2009, Bryan Cave and Atlanta-based Powell Goldstein merged, creating an expanded firm with new offices in Atlanta, Charlotte
and Dallas.
At the beginning of 2011, Bryan Cave closed it's Milan office, but continues with its Hamburg and Paris offices.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
with twenty-one offices worldwide, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Overview
The international law firmLaw firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
Bryan Cave LLP dates back to 1873 in St. Louis. Founded in 1873 in St. Louis as King, Phillips and Stewart, the firm became Stewart, Bryan, Christie and Williams through a merger in 1911. It is that Bryan who would take top billing in the firm name in 1916, a place of honor he still holds nearly a century later. When Rhodes Cave joined in 1917, the firm took on the name Bryan, Williams and Cave and the Cave became part of the name which is still retained today. In fact, Bryan Cave has long been nicknamed "The Cave" first by young lawyers (as a metaphor for the typical long hours and cave-like working conditions of associates at "The Cave", as were typical at most large firms)and then by paralegals and administrative staff, many who are typically "on-call" 24/7. Today, the firm is actually known for reasonable associate working hours. "The Cave" has a diversified world-wide legal practice, but is best known for representing large corporations in and around St. Louis, and for being well-connected politically.Bryan Cave lawyers include former U.S. Senators. John Danforth
John Danforth
John Claggett "Jack" Danforth is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Republican United States Senator from Missouri. He is an ordained Episcopal priest. Danforth is married to Sally D. Danforth and has five adult children.-Education and early career:Danforth was born...
and Alan Dixon, and former New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Ed Koch
Ed Koch
Edward Irving "Ed" Koch is an American lawyer, politician, and political commentator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989...
. The firm represents a wide variety of business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, financial
FINANCIAL
FINANCIAL is the weekly English-language newspaper with offices in Tbilisi, Georgia and Kiev, Ukraine. Published by Intelligence Group LLC, FINANCIAL is focused on opinion leaders and top business decision-makers; It's about world’s largest companies, investing, careers, and small business. It is...
, institutional and individual
Individual
An individual is a person or any specific object or thing in a collection. Individuality is the state or quality of being an individual; a person separate from other persons and possessing his or her own needs, goals, and desires. Being self expressive...
clients, including publicly held multinational corporations, large and mid-sized privately held companies, partnerships and emerging companies. Bryan Cave represented McDonnell Douglas Aircraft from its founding throughout that company's existence and since its purchase by Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, has represented Boeing. Employing a combination of expansion, foreign alliances and domestic mergers, Bryan Cave has established itself in the 21st century as an ambitious upstart on the global scene while retaining its historic ties to the Show-Me State. Bryan Cave is recognized as a leader and innovator in law firm technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
, which was developed out of necessity as Bryan Cave has steadily grown in size and number of offices. The Cave now employs more than 1,000 lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s and consulting professionals in 21 offices in America, Europe and Asia.
Its lawyers work in client teams either specific to an area of law or directed toward certain industries. The Cave's chairman,Don Lents who works from the St. Louis office, notes, “It is my sense that there is a growing focus on client teams and the need for such teams to be front and center in the thinking of firms.” Members of these groups are drawn from various disciplines and offices located around the globe. The firm’s computer and communication technology resources allow these lawyers to work closely together without regard to geographic location. Mr. Lents has served for a number of years as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and previously served as head of the firm’s Transactions Practice and chair of the Corporate Department. He also was the partner in charge of the firm’s London office from its opening in 1982 through 1984.
Bryan Cave International Consulting LLC
In addition to its 1,000+ lawyers, The Cave owns and operates a business consultancy on non-lawyers with 8 international offices. Bryan Cave International Consulting LLC ("BCIC") is a consulting firm of non-lawyer professionals, mostly tax accountants and financial advisors, affiliated with Bryan Cave LLP. BCIC operates as an extension of Bryan Cave’s International Trade Group which attempts "to serve clients that are planning access into a specific market or exploring options for locating various business functions, whether they want to take a proactive approach towards ensuring compliance with Customs and regulatory requirements or seek to defend and resolve a matter with the authorities, or they want to capitalize on cost-savings opportunities under trade agreements or design effective countermeasures against illicit trade." Such accounting branches of large law firms are often done in order to stay competitive with large accounting firms that have sought to expand into law practice through close relationship with one or more law firms, such multidisciplinary approachMultidisciplinary approach
A multidisciplinary approach to problem solving involves drawing appropriately from multiple disciplines to redefine problems outside of normal boundaries and reach solutions based on a new understanding of complex situations....
arrangements being termed "multi-disciplinary practices. As a trade and customs consultancy based in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Bryan Cave International Consulting (BCIC) has provided advisory and advocacy services to multinational clients in the IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
/electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
, automotive, agricultural, logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
, chemicals and other industries on a range of customs, trade and investment matters. BCIC is a consulting firm of non-lawyer professionals and a wholly owned affiliate of Bryan Cave LLP.
Notable Transactions
- Represented RalcorpRalcorpRalcorp Holdings is a manufacturer of various food products, including breakfast cereal, cookies, crackers, chocolate, snack foods, mayonnaise, pasta and peanut butter. The company is based in St. Louis, Missouri. The majority of the items Ralcorp makes are private label, store brand products. It...
in the $2.6 billion merger between Ralcorp and KraftKraft FoodsKraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
Food's portfolio of cereals under the Post Cereal label. - Advised MonsantoMonsantoThe Monsanto Company is a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed in the "Roundup" brand of herbicides, and in other brands...
in its $290 million purchase of Aly Participacoes, a division of Brazilian global conglomerate VotorantimVotorantimVotorantim is a city located at the southwest of São Paulo State in Brazil with an estimated population of 107,157 as of 2006. The city is located about 100 km away from the capital of the state. It has 147 km² of rural area, 30 km² of urban area and a total area of 177 km².-Geography:It is located...
. Aly Participacoes operated two companies, CanaVialis S.A. and Alellyx S.A. which focus on sugarcane breeding and related applied genomics and biotech in the sugarcane industry. - Counseled Barnes & NobleBarnes & NobleBarnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
, the bookseller, on its $596 million purchase of Barnes & Noble College Booksellers Inc., a division that had been spun off from Barnes & Noble in the mid-1980s. The acquisition closed on October 1, 2009.
Bryan Cave LLP
Atlanta CharlotteCHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Dallas Edwardsville, IL Irvine Jefferson City Kansas City
Los Angeles New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Overland Park, KS Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
San Francisco St. Louis Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
HamburgHamburg-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ShanghaiShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
Bryan Cave International Consulting
BangkokBangkokBangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...- BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
JakartaJakartaJakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
Kuala LumpurKuala LumpurKuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...- ShanghaiShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
- SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
History
Founded in 1873, the firm began as King, Phillips & Stewart in St. Louis, Mo., in a building across the street from the current St. Louis office. It is the largest law firm based in St. Louis, MO and the 57th in revenue among the world's law firms.In 1911, a merger resulted in Stewart, Bryan, Christie & Williams. In 1916, P. Taylor Bryan’s name became first in the firm title – where it remains to this day. Rhodes Cave joined the firm in 1917. It then became Bryan, Williams & Cave.
The firm took on as a client a “poor Scotsman with just a little ‘bitty’ aviation company” in 1939. That little company was McDonnell Aircraft Company, now The Boeing Company, which the firm has served since.
As it began its second 100 years, Bryan Cave had become a strong regional law firm with 52 lawyers in St. Louis. Creation of executive committee and managing partner positions in 1973 revolutionized how the firm handled its “law business.”
In 1978, Bryan Cave began to spread its geographic footprint. Its first office outside St. Louis opened in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, to enhance a growing legislative practice. Offices in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
followed.
In 1980, the firm established an international presence by opening a branch office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to handle business transactions in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. In 1982, the firm opened its London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
office. The firm soon began expansion to the west and southwest in the U.S. with offices opening in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
(1987) and Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
(1988). An Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
presence was established when the firm opened offices in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
(1994) and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
(1996)to serve clients with Chinese legal needs. The Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
office opened in 2001.
In 1993, Bryan Cave was chosen to represent the government of Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
in the preparation, submission and prosecution of its claims of more than $100 billion against the state of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
arising out of the invasion and occupation of Kuwait.
Bryan Cave and New York-based Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn & Berman merged in 2002.
The firm established an office in 2004 across the street from the very active Madison County, IL courthouse in Edwardsville, IL to serve southern Illinois and especially to assist clients defending against class action, product liability and commercial litigation matters in Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, which are well known as plaintiff-friendly venues for suits against large companies.
Bryan Cave International Consulting LLC was formed by the firm as Bryan Cave International Trade LLC in 2005, based in Asia, to expand Bryan Cave’s international trade-related services. BCIT was rebranded as BCIC in 2011 to reflect the expanded depth of resources and services available through the subsidiary.
In 2005 Bryan Cave lost its Riyadh and Dubai offices to the Houston, Texas based mega-firm Fullbright & Jaworski, but retained its office in Kuwait.
Bryan Cave recovered from that setback and continued to expand its global footprint in 2007 when it opened an office in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. The next year, 2008, it expanded in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
with the opening of a Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
office. 2008 also was the year the firm opened an office in San Francisco.
In 2009, Bryan Cave and Atlanta-based Powell Goldstein merged, creating an expanded firm with new offices in Atlanta, Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
and Dallas.
At the beginning of 2011, Bryan Cave closed it's Milan office, but continues with its Hamburg and Paris offices.