A WORD FROM OUR CHAIRMAN – HUGH VERRIER

 
White & Case began 2009 with a new organizational structure, one that connects our lawyers around the world with each other and with our clients more closely and effectively than ever before.

At the same time, the year started with an unprecedented downturn that gripped the world’s economy and severely impacted the market for legal services. To survive the downturn and address the change in demand for our services, we had to adapt quickly and make difficult decisions that affected the lives of many people.

We kept our focus on our clients, advising them as they made their way through what was a profoundly challenging year for everyone.

We won the dismissal of three antitrust complaints against our longtime client Saudi Aramco and its US subsidiaries. We acted for a group of Chrysler’s bondholders in a case that went to the US Supreme Court. And, we helped the government of Kazakhstan draft a new bank restructuring law.

Driven as always by client need, we expanded our presence globally, opening new offices in Doha and Geneva.

We enter 2010 in a strong position, focused on adjusting the way we do business to best meet our clients’ needs. One of the ways we are doing this is by bringing teams of lawyers from around the world together, focused on a shared purpose for a particular client. These teams make certain we are strengthening our relationships with our global clients and ensure clients are getting the greatest value from our services.

Client teams are just one of the many global initiatives we have put in place to ensure we are connected with our clients and with each other. We have built teams around practice areas in which we have a reputation for excellence, industries where our clients are active and other areas of interest for our lawyers and our clients.

But like any global business, our responsibility is not just to ourselves and to our clients. We should also be a constructive member of the global community, helping to harness the benefits of globalization to bring justice to those in need throughout the world. In 2009, for example, we became the official sponsor of the International Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, strengthening our links with future international lawyers. As another example, more than 45 of our lawyers helped our pro bono client, the Acumen Fund, fight poverty in countries around the world, including Pakistan, Rwanda, Kenya and India.

These connections—with each other, with our clients and with our community—distinguish White & Case as a truly global law firm.