2020

Annual Review

Highlights of our work, insights, achievements, programs and initiatives in a year that reshaped the world

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From our Chair

2020 reminded us that what affects one of us, affects all of us. In uncertain times, we drew on our connections with our clients and colleagues as we confronted the impact of a global pandemic, together. 

Collaborating with clients in new ways, we fielded global teams that worked on groundbreaking transactions and resolved high-stakes disputes around the world. Through our pro bono work and global citizenship initiatives, we responded to societal challenges posed by the pandemic and looked to address racial injustice, wherever it exists. 

This review marks the final year of our five-year 2020 Strategy. Despite a disruptive year, we met our financial targets and achieved outstanding results in the practices, industries and markets we targeted for growth. 

In 2020, we also articulated the values that I believe have always defined White & Case: Pioneering, United and Human. In a year when the world changed in ways we never could have predicted, our values came to life. I am confident they will continue to guide and enable our success going forward. 

__Hugh Verrier, Chair

Conversations

Q&As with guest speakers at Firm events

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© REUTERS/Terray Sylvester

Dr. Eddie Glaude

Princeton University’s Chair of the Department of African American Studies discusses racial justice in the US

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© Muhammed Said/Anadolu Agency/Getty Image

David Miliband

The CEO of the International Rescue Committee provides his perspective on geopolitics

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© Bloomberg/GettyImages

Martha Lane Fox

A digital sector entrepreneur and philanthropist shares her thoughts on technology’s role in society

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Perspectives

Our partners’ views on global legal and business developments

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© Brendan McDermid/Reuters

The stage is set for active M&A markets in 2021

A striking 2020 rebound suggests M&A will be key as companies position themselves post-COVID-19

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© Etienne Lauren/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

COVID-19 concerns expand foreign direct investment review regimes

Already on the rise, regulations worldwide are bulking up even more

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© Matthew Childs/Reuters

SPAC IPOs defy the pandemic downturn

After a decade in the doldrums, special purpose acquisition companies are back

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© Joao Henriques/Associated Press

Leveraged finance markets ended volatile year on a positive note

In the US and Europe, high yield bond activity primarily drove recoveries in 2020

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© Anne Mimault/Reuters

Will COVID-19 slow progress on ESG issues in the mining & metals sector? 

Our survey highlights tensions between advancing ESG goals and cost-cutting

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© Alberto Lingria/Reuters

Funding Europe’s broadband ambitions

Countries are testing a variety of models to finance essential broadband infrastructure 

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© Mike Theiss

Energy transition: Funding net zero

A large-scale challenge demands a large-scale response

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© Vitaly Golovatyuk

Oil & gas contract renegotiations soar

The transition from fossil fuels, capital constraints and COVID-19 is forcing contract reassessments

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©Jordi Sark

COVID-19 could help fast-track support for smart cities

The pandemic showed how far we’ve come toward realizing the promise of smart cities—and how far we still have to go  

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© Greg Baker/Getty Images

Accelerated shift to digital bodes well for fintech

Banks, fintech startups and tech giants are ramping up competition as demand for digitalization spikes

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© Moises Saman/Magnum Photos

Competitors collaborate to take on COVID-19 

Antitrust regulators made it easier for companies to work together to fight the pandemic

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© NurPhoto/Getty Images

Climate change disputes rely on new theories 

Lawsuits focused on human rights, corporate disclosures and fraud may herald new trends in litigation against oil & gas companies

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Impact

Highlights of our work in 2020

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© Al Bello/Getty Images

Antitrust

We won success for our clients in their most challenging litigations, cross-border mergers and investigations

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© Christophe Ena/AP

Capital Markets

Our heritage, scale and comprehensive offering made us a first choice in 2020 for complex cross-border capital markets matters

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© Rostislav Netisov/AFP via Getty Images

Debt Finance

From the world’s largest deals to innovative middle-market transactions, we provide value-oriented and commercial debt finance solutions

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© Avalon/Construction Photography/Alamy Stock Photo

Disputes

In courts and arbitration forums worldwide, we won successful resolutions of our clients’ high-stakes business disputes

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© Antpkr/iStock

Financial Restructuring and Insolvency

In an unprecedented year, we helped our clients change tack, survive and prosper

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© Johan Drone Adventures

Mergers & Acquisitions

In 2020, we advised on 360 announced M&A deals worldwide with a combined value of more than US$277 billion

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© REUTERS/Satish Kumar

Project Development and Finance

We advised sponsors, lenders and other stakeholders on developing and financing a wide range of projects

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© Jan Woitas/Getty Images

Pro Bono

Group efforts support sustainable development 

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Firm growth

Our 2020 achievements cap an outstanding five-year success story

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Revenue growth

9%

__2020 growth

57%

__2015 2020 growth

Our lawyers worldwide

Total2,257

909__americas

1,128__emea

220__asia-pacific

 

1,204

US-qualified lawyers

496

English-qualified lawyers

© Martin Meissner/AP

Strategy

Launched in 2015, our five-year strategy concluded with impressive results

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© Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images

Values

Pioneering, United, Human—the values we live by at White & Case

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© Emilio Morenatti/AP

2020 awards & rankings

White & Case was recognized for innovation and exceptional client service in 2020

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© David W Cerny/Reuters

2020 new partners

An outstanding roster of talented lawyers strengthened our Firm in 2020

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Diversity and inclusion

Where White & Case is a longtime leader—and we’re just getting started

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Our diverse workplace

Global affinity networks

Our nine global affinity networks foster a sense of community among the Firm’s Black, Asian, Latinx/Hispanic, Middle Eastern, BAME/minority ethnic and LGBT+ lawyers, business services professionals and their allies. Each network sets its own agenda, initiatives and goals, which are specific to the issues it feels are most important. Affinity networks also create and enhance awareness of these groups within the Firm and its larger culture, drive community and connection across our global offices, and support their members with career and professional development opportunities.

9

global affinity networks

 

110nationalities

87languages spoken

 

26

local women’s networks

 

Local women’s networks

Our 26 local women’s networks are active in 40 offices across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. These networks foster professional development and mentoring activities, and support business-related client partnerships. They also provide a forum for our lawyers and business services professionals to share perspectives and create programs to support and retain our talent while fostering and promoting gender equity. 

 

© Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

Recognition of our diversity and inclusion

For more than a decade, leading publications and alliance organizations have recognized White & Case’s outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion

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© Katrina Britney Davis

Working with Know Your Rights Camp to fight racial injustice

A multiyear partnership draws on the skills of our lawyers and business service professionals to educate young people about their rights

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© STEPHANE MAHE/Reuters

How allies can help fight anti-Black racism

Several incidents in 2020 evoked similar acts of racial injustice throughout US history and brought us to a watershed moment for global learning and confrontation of bias

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For our clients

06

6

continents

44

offices

30

countries

 

 

In 2020, we advised clients from

117

countries

On matters in

202

countries

© Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Image

CARES Act eligibility tool helped clients get fast answers

White & Case quickly created a user-friendly solution as companies rushed to secure funding

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© Luis Alvarez

Learning with and from our clients

A new webinar series brought White & Case partners, clients and industry experts together to share insights during a dynamic time   

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