| Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe |
333 Bush Street.,Ste. 3000,
San Francisco,
CA
94104-2878 |
|
www.hewm.com
|
(415) 772-6000
Fax: (415) 772-6268
|
 |
|
Heller Ehrman was founded by Emmanuel Heller in San Francisco's financial district in 1890. Established as a firm specializing in corporate work, Heller Ehrman helped shape the role of business lawyer as counselor. Heller Ehrman played an important role of the development of not only the Bay Area, but also the American West. For several months after the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906, the entire Wells Fargo Bank moved into Emmanuel Heller's home while its offices were being repaired. In less dramatic fashion, the firm also played a role in the construction of Boulder Dam, and San Francisco's famous bridges: the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge. In recent decades, the firm has expanded both its practice and geographic reach. In the 1960s, the firm began focusing increasingly on litigation. In 1974, Heller opened its first branch office, in Silicon Valley. And in the 1990s, the firm has opened East Coast offices (Washington D.C. in 1994) and international outposts (Hong Kong in 1993 and Singapore in 1994). One of the largest firms in the Bay Area, Heller is known primarily as a top-notch litigation firm. Nearly half of the firm's attorneys are litigators (counting intellectual property and environmental litigation lawyers) but the firm is working to expand all of its practices. In March of 1999 the firm combined with New York's Werbel & Carnelutti bringing the firms's number of attorney's to 460.
|
|
"Heller prides itself on being socially progressive and "groovy" while still being blue-chip," explains one associate. "The firm has a historically progressive track record on social issues and responsiveness to social change." Says a litigation associate: "The firm enjoys a reputation as socially progressive and responsible. This is not to tag Heller as a 'lifestyle' firm. This is to say that Heller attorneys top to bottom are humane and friendly. 'Earning the most money possible' is not a firm value." Another associate states the case more simply: "The people here have souls!"
Heller consistently ranks as one of the top firms in the country for its pro bono work. In 1997, the firm received the California State Bar President's Award for Northern California. In 1996, Heller was named as San Francisco's most outstanding law firm in public service by the city's bar association. "The firm is and always has been strongly committed to pro bono legal services of all kinds," says one associate. "It has a heart. It takes its stated philosophies seriously." Of course, Heller is still a large firm, and can't live on pro bono alone. "We're known as hotshot litigators with a social conscience," says one associate "although the firm does represent a prominent tobacco company [Phillip Morris]."
The firm is especially known for its welcoming atmosphere for gays and lesbians. In 1985, the firm helped win a landmark settlement for gay employees at Pacific Telephone & Telegrap, devoting more than 25,000 hours to the class action suit. In 1991, the San Francisco bar association published recommended guidelines to help firms become better workplaces for gays and lesbians. "If a candidate isn't socially progressive and accommodating, this isn't the firm for them. Come prepared to work together and to respect your peers."
|
|
Melissa Katz
Professional Recruitment Manager
(415) 772-60471
(415) 772-6047
Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison;Morrison & Foerster;Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro
More Company Profiles
For more career information, go to Vault.com
©2000, Vault.com Inc
|
|
