Editing DLA Piper

{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox law firm
| firm_name       = DLA Piper
| firm_logo       = [[File:DLA Piper logo.svg|200px]]
| headquarters    =
| num_attorneys   = Approximately 4,200<ref name=facts>{{cite web|url=http://www.dlapiper.com/global/about/facts/ |title=Facts and Figures |accessdate=4 May 2011 |publisher=DLA Piper |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710160816/http://www.dlapiper.com/global/about/facts/ |archivedate=10 July 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>
| num_employees   =   <!-- Total employees, including attorneys and staff -->
| practice_areas  = Arbitration, Banking, Competition and Trade, Corporate Crime, Corporate Finance, Employment, Energy, Government Affairs, Hospitality and Leisure, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Mergers and Acquisitions, Pensions, Private Equity, Real Estate, Restructuring, Tax, Technology
| key_people      = Roger Meltzer <small>(Global Co-Chairman)</small><br />Juan Picón <small>(Global Co-Chairman)</small><br />Simon Levine <small>(Joint CEO)</small><br /> Cameron Jay Rains<small> (Joint CEO)</small>
| revenue         = US$2.48 billion (2014)<ref name=amlaw1213>{{cite news|url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202719549681/The-Am-Law-100-the-Early-Numbers-DLA-Posts-Record-Profits-Despite-Flat-Revenue?slreturn=20150316095937,-Profits|title=The Am Law 100, the Early Numbers: DLA Posts Record Profits Despite Flat Revenue|accessdate=2 February 2013|work=The AmLaw Daily|date=1 February 2013}}</ref>
| profit_per_equity_partner = US$1.490 million (2014)<ref name=amlaw1213/>
| date_founded    = First parent firm founded 1764; Current organization dates to 2005 (by merger)<ref name=ourhistory/>
| founder         =
| company_type    = [[Swiss Verein]] (2 [[Limited liability partnership|LLPs]])
| firm_slogan     =
| homepage        = [http://www.dlapiper.com/home.aspx dlapiper.com]
| predecessor firms = DLA LLP; Piper Rudnick (including Piper & Marbury; and Rudnick and Wolfe); Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP 
| dissolved       =   <!-- Date/Reason the company dissolved, e.g., merger or bankruptcy -->
}}

'''DLA Piper''' is a [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] [[law firm]] located in more than 30 countries throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.<ref name=facts/> In 2014 it had total revenues of US$2.48 billion and average profit per equity partner of US$1.490 million,<ref name=amlaw1213/> and was the third largest law firm in the United States as measured by revenue.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Ashby|title=Latham & Watkins Tops the AmLaw 100 For the First Time|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2015/04/27/latham-watkins-tops-the-amlaw-100-for-the-first-time/|accessdate=9 September 2015|work=WSJ Law Blog|date=27 April 2015}}</ref>

DLA Piper was formed in January 2005 by a merger between three law firms: [[San Diego]]-based ''Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP'', [[Baltimore]]-based ''Piper Rudnick LLP'' and [[United Kingdom]]-based ''DLA LLP''. It is composed of two partnerships, the United Kingdom-based '''DLA Piper International LLP''' and the United States-based '''DLA Piper LLP (US)'''. The two partnerships share a single global board and are structured as a [[Swiss Verein]].<ref name=board>{{cite web|url=http://www.dlapiper.com/en/uk/aboutus/|title=Firm Leadership|accessdate=30 September 2010|publisher=DLA Piper}}</ref>

==Origins==

DLA Piper's origins can be traced back to [[Thomas Townend Dibb]] (1807–1875) and [[Lupton family#Charles and descendants|Sir Charles Lupton OBE]] (1855–1935).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/64443/LUPTON,%20CHARLES%20ROGER |title=CWGC – Casualty Details: Lupton, Charles Roger |work=Commonwealth War Graves Commission  |year=2013   |accessdate=9 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Ravetz |first=Alison |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-7oOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA119 |isbn= 9780856641602 |title=The Linguistic Atlas of Scotland |year=1974|publisher=Croom Helm Ltd |location=London |accessdate=9 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollonfriday.com/InsideInfo/CityFirms/tabid/68/Id/29/Default.aspx |title=UK City Firms : DLA Piper (London) |work=rollonfriday.com |year=2013 |accessdate=9 July 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729121335/http://rollonfriday.com/InsideInfo/CityFirms/tabid/68/id/29/Default.aspx |archivedate=29 July 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref>

In the reception foyer of DLA Piper (Leeds office) a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] bust of Thomas Townend Dibb is displayed as the founder of the firm. He was born in Leeds, in 1807, the son of a physician. He was educated at [[Leeds Grammar School]] and qualified in 1829. He then became a partner of Atkinson Bolland & Atkinson, a well established practice at that time and with record of its existence from 1764. DLA can trace its [[Yorkshire]] roots back to 1764, when the firm of Barnard & Bolland was established in Leeds. The newly qualified Thomas Dibb became a partner at Barnard & Bolland and added his name in 1829.
The three-letter abbreviation used by the firm today - DLA -  conceals a complex history of consolidation and name changes. It picked up Lupton, from Nelson Eddison & Lupton in 1920. The firm merged with Broomhead of Sheffield in 1988.
The name of the firm as Dibb Lupton & Co. survived intact until the merger with Broomheads of Sheffield in 1988. Following the link with Alsop Wilkinson in 1996, the firm was then known as Dibb Lupton Alsop until around the year 2000, when the name was shortened to DLA.
It is now known internationally as DLA Piper, the largest law firm (by revenue) in the world.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Binham|first1=Caroline|title=DLA Piper takes top spot in law firm rankings|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f89f872c-e4cc-11e2-a74d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3VfEbkqFy|publisher=The Financial Times  - 5 July 2013|accessdate=28 March 2015|quote=DLA Piper has become the biggest law firm in the world by revenue, knocking its rival Baker & McKenzie off the top spot, according to new rankings}}</ref>

Sir Charles Lupton had been educated at [[Rugby school]] and then [[Trinity College, Cambridge]]. He qualified as a solicitor in 1881, practising mainly at Dibb & Co., later Dibb Lupton in [[Leeds]] and also Nelson Eddison & Lupton.
<ref>{{cite web|last1=Reporters|first1=Yorkshire Post|title=DLA Piper to begin job loss talks with lawyers|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/business-news/dla-piper-to-begin-job-loss-talks-with-lawyers-1-5130045|publisher=Yorkshire Post 15 November 2012|accessdate=28 March 2015}}</ref> Lupton was the Lord Mayor of [[Leeds]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Leeds Public Library|url=http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=20031021_91329593|title=History of Quarry Hill, Leeds|publisher=UK Gov. (Leeds)|accessdate=9 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/image_galleries/image_gallery_quarry_hill_gallery.shtml |title=BBC – Leeds – In Pictures – Quarry Hill's history |work=bbc.co.uk |year=2013 |accessdate=9 July 2013}}</ref> in 1915–16. His portrait was painted by royal portraitist [[Oswald Birley|Sir Oswald Birley]] and his wife, Katharine Lupton (née Ashton) - a former Leeds [[Lady Mayoress]] - <ref>{{cite web|title=OBITUARY MRS. K. LUPTON - former Lady Mayoress of Leeds|url=http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/searchbna/results?memberlastsubclass=none&searchhistorykey=0&keywords=ashton%20katherine%20charles%20lupton%20lady%20mayoress%20leeds&county=west%20yorkshire%2c%20england&from=1929&to=1943|publisher=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer  10 May 1940|quote=OBITUARY MRS. K. LUPTON Mrs. Katharine Lupton,...a former Lady Mayoress of Leeds, died at her home, Carr Head, Roundhay, yesterday...}}</ref> was the sister of [[Thomas Ashton, 1st Baron Ashton of Hyde]].  Lupton is the great great granduncle of [[Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2013/apr/05/duchess-of-cambridge-kate-middleton-leeds |title=Duchess of Cambridge not posh? Her ancestor was lord mayor of Leeds |first=Michael  |last=Reed  |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=5 April 2013 |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group|GMG]] |location=London |issn=0261-3077 |oclc=60623878 |accessdate=9 July 2013}}</ref><ref name=lupton>Lupton, C.A. , ''The Lupton Family in Leeds'', Wm. Harrison and Son 1965</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Toni|title=The Duchess of Cambridge is a real Cambridge boffin: New details of Kate's family tree reveal that she is descended from university academics|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2303396/Kate-Middletons-family-tree-reveals-Duchess-Cambridge-real-Cambridge-University-boffin.html|publisher=UK Daily Mail - 6 April 2013|accessdate=28 March 2015}}</ref>

Lupton's son was [[Charles Lupton|Captain Charles Roger Lupton]], the World War I flying ace.

Dibb had no children. The Yorkshire Obituary of June 1875 defines Dibb as "one of the most influential men in the borough, and for long period the firm, of which he in the course of time rose to be the chief, has had an influential and extensive practice."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Obituary|first1=The Times|title=Obituary  - Thomas Townend Dibb - Died 1875, 15 November 1875 Page 15|url=http://www.fold3.com/document/293573352/|publisher=The Times - 15 November 1875  -  Page 15|accessdate=28 March 2015}}</ref>

==Piper Rudnick and American predecessor firms==

Piper Rudnick was the result of a 1999 merger between the [[Baltimore]]-based Piper & Marbury and Chicago-based Rudnick & Wolfe.<ref name=nyt191004/> At the time, the merger was the largest law firm merger in history.<ref name="BBJ2002-4-5">{{cite news|last=Rulison|first=Larry|title=Piper dropping the 'Marbury' name|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2002/04/01/daily43.html|work=Baltimore Business Journal|date=5 April 2002|accessdate=9 September 2013}}</ref> The combined firm was known as Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe LLP until April 2002, when the firm shortened its name to Piper Rudnick LLP.<ref name="BBJ2002-4-5" />

Piper Rudnick acquired the Washington, D.C. based lobbying firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand in September 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=Company Overview of Verner Lipfert Bernhard McPherson & Hand|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=2402768|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|accessdate=9 September 2013}}</ref>

==2005 to 2010==

In July 2004 UK-based law firm DLA LLP and Baltimore-based law firm Piper Rudnick announced their intention to merge on 1 January 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/nigel-knowles-tours-uk-to-drum-up-support-for-%E2%80%98dla-piper-rudnick%E2%80%99/111296.article|title=Nigel Knowles tours UK to drum up support for 'DLA Piper Rudnick'|accessdate=3 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=26 July 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/3485153|title=The bigger the better? The merger between DLA and Piper Rudnick creates a new global giant|accessdate=19 July 2012|work=The Economist|date=9 December 2004}}</ref> DLA had been the result of a mid-1990s merger between three UK firms, Dibb Lupton Broomhead, Alsop Stevens, and Wilkinson Kimbers.<ref name=nyt191004/>

Piper Rudnick agreed to merge with San Diego-based law firm Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP in October 2004, forming a firm with around 1,300 lawyers and 20 offices across the United States.<ref name=nyt191004>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/19/business/19law.html|title=Two Law Firms to Join Forces|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=The New York Times|date=19 October 2004|first=Eric|last=Dash}}</ref> In December 2004 DLA LLP, Gray Cary and Piper Rudnick, the latter two of which had yet to complete their merger, announced that the partners of each firm had approved a three-way merger.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38223-2004Dec5.html|title=Piper Rudnick to Merge With Big British Firm|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=The Washington Post|date=6 December 2004|first=Neil|last=Irwin}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-12-06/business/0412060004_1_piper-rudnick-seventh-largest-firm-dla|title=Piper Rudnick, DLA to combine|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=Chicago Tribune|date=6 December 2004|first=Ameet|last=Sachdev}}</ref> The merger became effective on 1 January 2005 and the new firm was named ''DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary''.<ref name=ourhistory>{{cite web|url=http://www.dlapiper.com/global/about/ourhistory/ |title=Our History |accessdate=30 September 2010 |publisher=DLA Piper |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710161044/http://www.dlapiper.com/global/about/ourhistory/ |archivedate=10 July 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> The merger was structured in the form of two limited liability partnerships, DLA Piper International LLP, and DLA Piper US LLP (since renamed to DLA Piper LLP (US)), which share a single management board but are not financially integrated.<ref name=board/>

In July 2005 DLA Piper acquired EY Law's 87 lawyer operation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, including offices in Moscow and St Petersburg.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-secures-ey-cis-takeover-approval/115994.article|title=DLA Piper secures E&Y CIS takeover approval|accessdate=3 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=27 June 2005}}</ref> In December 2005 DLA Piper opened an office in Beijing, having recruited a team of lawyers from the Beijing office of [[Coudert Brothers]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-opens-in-beijing-with-coudert-crew/118017.article|title=DLA Piper opens in Beijing with Coudert crew|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=9 December 2005}}</ref>

In January 2006 DLA Piper opened its first office in the Middle East, in [[Dubai]].<ref name=thelaw71209>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-restructuring-to-dramatically-scale-back-gulf-presence/1002873.article|title=DLA restructuring to dramatically scale back Gulf presence |accessdate=2 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=7 December 2009}}</ref> The firm has since opened offices in [[Abu Dhabi]], [[Cairo]], [[Doha]], [[Kuwait City]], [[Manama]], [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]], [[Riyadh]] and [[Jeddah]]. On 1 September 2006 the firm shortened its name to DLA Piper.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/shorter-is-sweeter/120927.article|title=Shorter is sweeter|accessdate=3 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=10 July 2006}}</ref> DLA Piper merged with its Norway-based alliance firm DLA Nordic in the same month,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-loses-bergen-office-to-local-firm/136379.article|title=DLA Piper loses Bergen office to local firm|accessdate=19 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=20 January 2009}}</ref> and formed an alliance with the Australia-based law firm Phillips Fox in November 2006, with Phillips Fox rebranding as DLA Phillips Fox at that time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-finalises-aussie-alliance/119787.article|title=DLA Piper finalises Aussie alliance|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=4 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/phillips-fox-becomes-dla-phillips-fox/120371.article|title=Phillips Fox becomes DLA Phillips Fox|accessdate=3 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=15 June 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/phillips-fox-vietnam-opts-for-aar-tie-up/122819.article|title=Phillips Fox Vietnam opts for AAR tie-up|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=6 November 2006}}</ref>

DLA Piper opened offices in [[Munich]], Germany and [[Warsaw]], Poland in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-looks-to-bucharest-for-full-cee-coverage/128600.article|title=DLA Piper looks to Bucharest for full CEE coverage|accessdate=3 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=17 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-sets-150-lawyer-target-for-germany-offices/127947.article|title=DLA Piper sets 150-lawyer target for Germany offices|accessdate=3 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=20 August 2007}}</ref>

==2010 to present==

In February 2010 DLA Piper formed an alliance with the Turkish law firm Yüksel Karkın Küçük<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-to-launch-in-turkey-via-alliance-with-local-firm/1003559.article|title=DLA to launch in Turkey via alliance with local firm|accessdate=3 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=23 February 2010}}</ref> until 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Chris |date=2014-11-18 |title=DLA Piper's Turkey Office Demerges From Firm |url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202676742826/DLA-Pipers-Turkey-Office-Demerges-From-Firm |newspaper=American Lawyer |access-date=2015-12-15}}</ref> In March 2010 DLA Piper formed an alliance with the Brazil-based law firm Campos Mello Advogados.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=addWSLG4Dq3s|title=DLA Piper Joins Law Firms Beckoned by Brazil's Growth|accessdate=3 July 2012|work=Bloomberg|date=2 March 2010}}</ref>

In January 2011 DLA Piper and DLA Phillips Fox announced their intention to merge.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/merger-of-dla-phillips-fox-with-dla-piper-to-create-law-giant/story-e6frg97x-1225995700620|title=Merger of DLA Phillips Fox with DLA Piper to create law giant|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=The Australian|date=28 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-seals-‘unique’-aussie-merger/1006788.article|title=DLA Piper seals 'unique' Aussie merger|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=31 January 2011}}</ref> The merger was approved by partners of both firms in February and was completed on 1 May, when DLA Phillips Fox become part of DLA Piper International LLP.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-partners-give-backing-to-firms-aussie-merger/1007117.article|title=DLA Piper partners give backing to firm's Aussie merger|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=28 February 2011}}</ref> Later in the same month DLA Phillips Fox's former New Zealand-based offices separated to form an independent firm.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-phillips-fox-in-divorce-from-new-zealand-arm/1007785.article|title=DLA Phillips Fox in divorce from New Zealand arm|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=3 May 2011}}</ref> DLA Piper formed an alliance with [[Venezuela]]-based law firm InterJuris Abogados in February 2011, which subsequently renamed as DLA Interjuris.<ref name=thelaw14212>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-launches-in-mexico-city-with-thompson-and-knight-team/1011396.article|title=DLA Piper launches in Mexico City with Thompson & Knight team|accessdate=3 July 2012|work=The Lawyer|date=14 February 2012}}</ref> In 2016, the Venezuelan firm exited the alliance with DLA Piper and reverted to operating under the name of InterJuris Abogados.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Tom|title=DLA Piper loses Venezuela presence, ending local relationship with InterJuris after five years|url=http://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/index.php/lb-blog-view/5805-dla-piper-loses-venezuela-presence-ending-local-relationship-after-five-years|accessdate=7 May 2016|work=Legal Business|publisher=Legalease Ltd|date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

In February 2012 DLA Piper opened an office in [[Mexico City]], having recruited a team from Thompson & Knight's office in the city.<ref name=thelaw14212/>

In January 2013 DLA Piper announced the closure of its Glasgow office<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-to-shut-glasgow-and-offload-defendant-insurance-teams-as-redundancy-talks-continue/1016630.article|title=DLA Piper to shut Glasgow and offload defendant insurance teams as redundancy talks continue|accessdate=2 February 2013|work=The Lawyer|date=24 January 2013}}</ref> and the sale of its Manchester- and Sheffield-based defendant insurance practices to [[Hill Dickinson]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/hill-dickinson-acquires-dlas-sheffield-and-manchester-insurance-hubs/1016667.article|title=Hill Dickinson acquires DLA's Sheffield and Manchester insurance hubs|accessdate=2 February 2013|work=The Lawyer|date=28 January 2013}}</ref>

Also in January 2013, DLA Piper opened an office in [[Seoul]] in South Korea.<ref>http://news.dlapiper.com/Press-Releases/DLA-Piper-opens-Korea-office-572.aspx</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dlapiper.com/korea/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-06-24 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509011211/http://www.dlapiper.com/korea/ |archivedate=9 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

On 2 March 2015, DLA Phillips Fox New Zealand became DLA Piper New Zealand.

On 17 April 2015, Canadian law firm Davis LLP became DLA Piper (Canada) LLP.<ref>https://www.dlapiper.com/en/canada/news/2015/04/dla-piper-and-davis-finalize-combination-in-canada/</ref>

On 13 October 2015, DLA Piper announced the opening of an office in Casablanca in Morocco.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.dlapiper.com/en/uk/news/2015/10/dla-piper-launches-on-the-ground-in-africa/|title = |date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>

On November 1, 2016, DLA Piper (Canada) LLP combined with Dimock Stratton LLP and will operate under the DLA Piper name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/legal-post/dla-piper-to-merge-with-dimock-stratton-and-other-legal-moves-and-grooves-for-sept-26|title=DLA Piper to merge with Dimock Stratton and other legal moves and grooves for Sept. 26|access-date=2016-09-28}}</ref>

An office opened in Johannesburg in January 2016.

The Danish firm LETT and the Portuguese firm ABBC<ref>{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Tom |date=2017-03-07 |title='Natural evolution': DLA Piper swoops into Lisbon with new tie-up |url=http://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/index.php/lb-blog-view/9199-natural-evolution |newspaper=Legal Business |access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> joined DLA Piper in March 2017 which made DLA Piper the largest law firm in the Nordic region, with offices in Aarhus, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo and Stockholm (DLA Piper has no offices in Iceland).

In late June 2017, [[The New York Times]] reported the firm had been hit in the [[ransomware]] [[cyberattack]] which infected their network.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Mark |last2=Perlroth |first2=Nicole |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/technology/ransomware-hackers.html |title=New Cyberattack Spreads in Europe, Russia and U.S. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2017-06-27 |accessdate=2017-06-27 }}</ref>

== Offices ==
DLA Piper is a polycentric firm with over 80 offices in more than 30 countries across the Americas, Asia Pacific, [[Australasia]], Europe, Africa and the Middle East:<ref>http://www.dlapiper.com/files/Publication/298c657a-beef-4bb1-9726-f98745ea1c86/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/12d97ceb-3e2d-4044-b538-16a084843bbd/Key_Facts_Document_.pdf{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Political contributions ==
DLA Piper was the twelfth-largest donor to President Barack Obama's [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012|2012 re-election campaign]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=N00009638|title=Top Contributors|work=opensecrets.org}}</ref>  According to the [[Center for Responsive Politics]], DLA Piper was one of the top law firms contributing to federal candidates during the 2012 election cycle, donating $2.19 million, 73% to Democrats.<ref name=topcontributors>{{cite web|title=Lawyers & Lobbyists: Top Contributors to Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.php?ind=K&Bkdn=DemRep&cycle=2012|website=OpenSecrets.org|publisher=Center for Responsive Politics}}</ref>  By comparison, during that same period [[Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld]] donated $2.56 million, 66% to Democrats,<ref name=topcontributors/> while oil conglomerate [[ExxonMobil]] donated $2.66 million, 88% to Republicans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Energy/Natural Resources: Top Contributors to Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.php?ind=E&Bkdn=DemRep&cycle=2012|website=OpenSecrets.org|publisher=Center for Responsive Politics|accessdate=9 June 2016}}</ref>  Since 1990, DLA Piper has contributed $16.97 million to federal campaigns, and spent over $1 million on lobbying since 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=Organizations: DLA Piper|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000021569&cycle=A|website=OpenSecrets.org|publisher=Center for Responsive Politics|accessdate=9 June 2016}}</ref>

As of 2014 it was the fifth largest donor to potential presidential candidate [[Hillary Clinton]].

==Controversy==
In 2010, DLA Piper represented [[Paul Ceglia]] in his claim that he hired [[Mark Zuckerberg]] to create a website that became [[Facebook]] and that, under the agreement, Ceglia was entitled to ownership of 84 percent of Facebook, then worth multiple billions of dollars.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/technology/18facebook.html?pagewanted=all|title=Abrupt Turn as Facebook Battles Suit|accessdate=20 October 2014|work=The New York Times|date=17 April 2011}}</ref> Zuckerberg and Facebook responded that, while Ceglia had hired Zuckerberg to work on an unrelated site, Ceglia had fraudulently altered that contract to make it appear to cover Facebook. A DLA Piper attorney told the Wall Street Journal that, although he had not seen the original document, he had "absolutely 100% confidence that [Mr. Ceglia's] agreement is authentic."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703385404576258660250753064|title=Fight Over Facebook Origins Escalates|accessdate=21 October 2014|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=13 April 2011}}</ref> Ceglia's document was later, in fact, found to be fraudulent and in 2014, Facebook and Zuckerberg sued DLA Piper and others, claiming Ceglia’s lawyers "knew or should have known that the [initial] lawsuit was a fraud."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://recode.net/2014/10/20/facebook-sues-lawyers-of-discredited-co-founder-paul-ceglia/|title=Facebook Sues Lawyers of Discredited "Co-Founder" Paul Ceglia |accessdate=21 October 2014|work=re/code|date=20 October 2014}}</ref> The suit was later dismissed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Flaherty |first=Scott |date=2015-12-29 |title=New York Court Nixes Facebook Suit Against DLA Piper, Milberg|url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202745932454/New-York-Court-Nixes-Facebook-Suit-Against-DLA-Piper-Milberg |newspaper=American Lawyer |access-date=2016-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2015-12-29 |title=Business roundup: DuPont to cut 1,700 jobs in Delaware |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/dupont-will-cut-28-percent-of-its-workforce-in-delaware/2015/12/29/f64bcfda-ae37-11e5-b711-1998289ffcea_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2016-01-11}}</ref>

==Notable attorneys, advisors and staff==
* Former US Senator [[George J. Mitchell|George Mitchell]] was DLA Piper's chairman between 2003 and 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2007/12/04/dla-piper-the-firm-behind-the-mitchell-report/|title=DLA Piper: The Firm Behind the Mitchell Report|accessdate=25 October 2010|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=4 December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/22/AR2009112202106.html|title=Palestinians looking to American-style housing developments, financing|accessdate=25 October 2010|work=The Washington Post|date=23 November 2009|first=Howard|last=Schneider}}</ref> As of 2012, he is Chairman Emeritus.<ref>{{cite news |last=Strahler |first=Steven |date=2012-05-19 |title=At DLA Piper, a global portfolio |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120519/ISSUE01/305199978/at-dla-piper-a-global-portfolio |newspaper=Crain's Chicago Business |access-date=2015-12-15}}</ref>

* [[Michael Castle]], former [[Governor of Delaware]], has been a partner at DLA Piper since 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2011/05/churn5311.html|title=The Churn: Lateral Moves and Promotions in The Am Law 200|accessdate=19 July 2012|work=The AmLaw Daily|date=3 May 2011}}</ref>
 
*[[Timothy Clement-Jones, Baron Clement-Jones]], [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] [[peerage|Peer]] and former spokesman for the Creative Industries in the [[House of Lords]].

* Sir [[Nigel Knowles]] was Managing Partner from 1996 to 2015 and Global Co-Chairman from 2015 to 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hays |first=Kali |date=2016-03-03 |title=DLA Madrid Partner Gets Global Role Left By Long-Time Chair |url=http://www.law360.com/articles/766795/dla-madrid-partner-gets-global-role-left-by-long-time-chair |newspaper=Law360 |access-date=2016-04-22}}</ref>

* [[James Blanchard]], former US Governor and former Ambassador to Canada, has been Partner since 1996.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kozlowski |first=Kim |date=2015-09-10 |title=Blanchard gives MSU $1M for public service program |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/09/10/michigan-state-university-gift-blanchard/72001498/ |newspaper=The Detroit News |access-date=2015-12-15}}</ref>

* [[José María Aznar]], former Prime Minister of Spain, has been Senior Adviser to DLA Piper’s Global Board since 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last=Benoit |first=Angeline |date=2013-05-24 |title=DLA Piper Hires Former Spain PM Jose Maria Aznar as Adviser |url= |newspaper=Bloomberg |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Tom |date=2015-06-03 |title=DLA builds LatAm presence with Colombia pact as firm hopes to leverage Spanish relationships |url=http://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/index.php/lb-blog-view/4243-dla-builds-latam-presence-with-colombia-pact-as-firm-hopes-to-build-on-spanish-relationships |newspaper=Legal Business |access-date=2015-12-15}}</ref>

* [[Ray LaHood]], former secretary of the Department of Transportation, has been Senior Policy Adviser since 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Jennifer |date=2014-01-22 |title=Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Heads to DLA Piper |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2014/01/22/former-transportation-secretary-ray-lahood-heads-to-dla-piper/ |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2015-12-15}}</ref>
 
* [[Bart Chilton]], former US Commodity Futures Trading Commissioner, was Senior Policy Adviser from 2014 to 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gershman |first=Jacob |date=2014-04-14 |title=Ex-CFTC Commissioner Bart Chilton to Join DLA Piper as Policy Adviser |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2014/04/14/ex-cftc-commissioner-bart-chilton-to-join-dla-piper-as-policy-adviser/ |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2015-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2017-01-10 |title=Former CFTC Commissioner Chilton Leaves DLA Piper |url=http://www.profit-loss.com/articles/news/people/former-cftc-commissioner-chilton-leaves-dla-piper |newspaper=Profit & Loss |access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
 
* [[Saxby Chambliss]], former US Senator, has been Partner since 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Megan |date=2015-01-08 |title=Ex-senator Chambliss heads to DLA Piper |url=http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/228887-chambliss-heads-to-dla-piper |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=2015-12-15}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
* [[Dick Armey]], former [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] from Texas' {{ushr|Texas|26|26th congressional district}} (1985–2003) and [[Party Leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House Majority Leader]] (1995–2003). 

* [[Rudi M. Brewster]], former Judge of the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of California]]

* [[Peter Bynoe]], attorney and businessman who co-owned the [[Denver Nuggets]] (along with Bertram Lee, first black owner of NBA team)

* [[Tom Daschle]], a former [[US Senator]] and US [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Leader]], was Policy Adviser at DLA Piper from December 2009<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/tom-daschle/gIQAoBBd9O_topic.html|title=Tom Daschle|accessdate=3 July 2012|work=The Washington Post|date=}}</ref> to October 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vanden Dolder |first=Tess |date=2014-10-28 |title=K Street: Tom Daschle Leaves DLA Piper to Start His Own Policy Advisory Group |url=http://dcinno.streetwise.co/all-series/k-street-tom-daschle-leaves-dla-piper-to-start-his-own-policy-advisory-group/ |newspaper=DC Inno |access-date=2015-12-15}}</ref>

* [[Steven J. Davis]], earth system scientist at the [[University of California, Irvine]]

* [[Jared Genser]], international human rights attorney

* [[Miriam González Durántez]], wife of former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, [[Nick Clegg]], was a partner at DLA Piper from 2006 to 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lib-dem-first-lady-miriam-gonzalez-durantez-lands-job-at-us-firm-2376876.html|title=Lib Dem first lady Miriam Gonzalez Durantez lands job at US firm|accessdate=19 July 2012|work=The Independent|date=28 October 2011|location=London}}</ref>

* [[A. B. Krongard]], former Executive Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and former Chairman and CEO of [[Alex. Brown & Sons]]

* [[Jonathan Lisle]], British D.J.

* [[Harry Cummings McPherson, Jr.]], author, attorney and policymaker who served as counsel and special counsel to President of the United States [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] from 1965 to 1969, Johnson’s chief speechwriter from 1966 to 1969. 

* [[Paul Victor Niemeyer]], Judge on the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit]] and a former United States District Judge of the [[United States District Court for the District of Maryland]].

* [[Thomas C. Wheeler]], a Judge of the [[United States Court of Federal Claims]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.dlapiper.com }}

{{Law firms of the United Kingdom}}

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[[Category:Law firms of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Law firms of the United States]]
[[Category:Privately held companies in the United States]]
[[Category:Foreign law firms with offices in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Foreign law firms with offices in Japan]]
[[Category:Law firms established in 2005]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in the United States]]