With more than 800 lawyers around the world, Duane Morris has 22 offices across the U.S., as well as offices throughout Asia and one in London.

Small, Medium, Big

In 1904 in Philadelphia, four lawyers joined together to form the partnership that is today known as Duane Morris. In the mid-80s, the firm got the urge to expand, opening an office in Delaware—and it hasn’t looked back since, with eight more offices opening in the ’90s and 15 new offices launching since 2000. International growth began with the opening of its London office in 2000, and the firm planted its flag in Asia in 2007.

From Construction to Cannabis

Duane Morris’ practice areas include litigation, corporate law, intellectual property, business reorganization and financial restructuring, employment and immigration, energy and environment, health law, real estate, and private client services. The firm also serves some niche industries and areas, including infrastructure and cannabis. The firm provides counsel on issues relating to construction and engineering projects, including litigation, contract formation, public-private partnership projects, financing, real estate issues, environmental issues, and tax issues.

Duane Morris has also taken a deep dive into the emerging practice of cannabis regulation law. The firm provides services in nearly all facets concerning cannabis, from financing and licensing to IP and litigation. In 2018, the firm kicked off its partnership with the American Trade Association of Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH)—the first partnership between a law firm and an trade organization in the cannabis industry. Additionally, Duane Morris hosts a webinar series discussing the effect of the cannabis business on the law and vice versa.

A Specimen of Study

Harvard Business Professor Boris Groysberg commissioned a study in 2006 of the firm for his business students called “Duane Morris: Balancing Growth and Culture at a Law Firm.” Groysberg found that, despite its rapid expansion, Duane Morris had maintained its “Quaker values” along with an “unusually narrow” spread between the highest and lowest partner compensations, according to the ABA Journal. The study also noted Duane Morris’ practice of emphasizing lateral hires in its recruitment practices.

In 2013, Harvard Business School published its second case study of the firm, titled “Collaborating for Growth: Duane Morris in a Turbulent Legal Sector.” The case study examined the firm’s success in maintaining its collaborative culture, as well as the firm’s continuing expansion into new markets. The study concluded that Duane Morris was able to maintain its “Quaker ways” by keeping a “transparent, data-driven compensation system, practice-group integration across multiple offices, and rewards for attorneys who shared responsibility.”

In addition to this, Duane Morris is heralded as a leading law firm for diversity and inclusion efforts, having even earned the Minority Corporate Counsel Association Innovator Award and being among the first to ever name a chief diversity officer. Duane Morris associates participate in the annual diversity & inclusion retreat, which targets business development efforts alongside establishing priorities of inclusion in all sectors.

COVID-19 Update

Duane Morris is concerned about the safety and well-being of all of it lawyers and staff, as well as candidates to the firm. The firm monitors the status of COVID continually, complies with all state and local guidelines, and encourages safe practices in working and recruiting. The COVID pandemic has been a fluid situation and the firm has responded, and will continue to respond, with flexibility. Where in-person interviews are an option, candidates who prefer to participate in virtual interviews will be accommodated. Candidates should feel free to request any other needed COVID accommodations.