An overview of DLA Piper

Awards and recognition  |  Main services  |  'Everything Matters'  |  Firm leadership  |  Values and vision  |  Corporate responsibility

Awards and recognition

• Winner of Asia Pacific M&A Law Firm of the Year 2009 by M&A Atlas Awards
• Winner of Asia Pacific Energy Sector Deal of the Year 2009 by M&A Atlas Awards
• Winner of M&A Deal of the Year 2009 by ALB HK Awards
• Winner of Best Employment Law Firm 2009 by Corporate INTL
• Winner of Best Tax Law Firm 2009 by Corporate INTL
• Winner of the Deal Achievement Award of the Year for advising Heckmann Corporation (Heckmann) on the US$625 million acquisition of China Water and Drinks Inc. - Asia M&A Atlas Awards 2008
• Asia's Best Legal Firm, Corporate Practice 2006-2009 - Corporate Governance Asia

DLA Piper is a global law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. Our goal is simply to take care of our clients wherever they do business.

We tailor our resources to your needs so that you get exactly the right service for the job in hand, whether in multiple jurisdictions or just one.

Strong client relationships are at the heart of our strategy. We are proud to represent a sophisticated and diverse range of clients, around the world and in just about every field of law.

Thriving local practices are an essential part of our effectiveness in providing international services and we remain committed to the regional markets that are the foundations of international business. Combining detailed knowledge of these markets with an international perspective means we serve clients efficiently and knowledgably, wherever they do business.

Main services

• Corporate finance
• Commercial contracts
• Corporate
• Employment, pensions and benefits
• Energy and water
• Government relations
• Hospitality and leisure
• Insurance
• Intellectual property
• Life sciences
• Litigation and international arbitration
• Private equity / venture capital
• Product liability
• Projects and infrastructure
• Real estate
• Regulatory
• Restructuring
• Retail and franchising
• Tax
• Technology

 'Everything Matters'

'Everything Matters' sums up our commitment to understanding all our clients' business, managerial and personal needs. Only then can we act in exactly the right way to provide practical and innovative legal solutions that help our clients succeed.

Our clients' needs are the compass that enables us to deliver a consistent quality and experience across our practices, around the world and in everything we do. It also reflects our belief that business should enhance our communities and our people.

Firm leadership

DLA Piper's Global Board is chaired by Francis (Frank) B. Burch, Jr. Our Joint CEOs are Lee I. Miller, based in the US, and Nigel Knowles, based in the UK.

These visionary leaders presided over DLA Piper's evolution into one of the largest international legal practices in the world. With nearly 4,000 lawyers in more than 65 offices around the world, we are just where we need to be to get on with the job of looking after the world's businesses.

Frank Burch, formerly Joint CEO of DLA Piper, assumed the role of Global Chairman on 1 January 2009. He helped lead the evolution of what was then Piper & Marbury, a regional firm based in Maryland with 250 lawyers, to DLA Piper, now one of the largest law firms in the world with nearly 4,000 lawyers in more than 65 offices around the world and revenue approaching $2.5 billion.

Sir Nigel Knowles is Joint CEO of DLA Piper. He has been managing partner of DLA Piper since 1996. In that time he has led its growth from a regional UK law firm into one of the world's largest law firms with a global turnover of more than £1 billion.

Lee I Miller is Joint CEO of DLA Piper and a member of the firm's Executive Committee and Global Board. For nearly 30 years, Mr Miller has concentrated his practice in the area of commercial real estate law.

Values and vision

Our vision

To be the leading global business law firm, delivering quality, value-added services to our clients globally and locally.

What does the vision mean for DLA Piper and its clients?

1. We base our business on long-term relationships with our clients and strive to deliver added value on a sustained basis.
2. We acquire deep knowledge and understanding of our clients’ businesses and the sectors in which they operate.
3. We have the geographic coverage that allows us to help our clients wherever they do business.
4. Our global strength and vision is founded on the strength and stature of our local and regional practices and relationships.
5. We will respect and nurture our local cultures and diversity.

Our values

We connect our people, our clients and our communities through living our values.

Our clients

• We believe client interests are at the heart of our business, and we strive to achieve excellence in everything we do for them.
• We believe in long-term relationships with our clients based on openness and honesty.
• We respect and meet our obligations as professionals.

Our people

• We value diversity and respect the individual.
• We believe in teamwork for the good of the firm and our clients.

Our communities

Clients

DLA Piper clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies.

Corporate responsibility

Local responsibility… global reach

'Everything Matters' is about more than our service to clients. It also describes our commitment to give back to our local and global communities.

In each of our offices around the world, we make a serious commitment to public service by dedicating our time and legal services to projects related to education, healthcare, housing, hunger, economic development and law reform.

Please visit our global corporate responsibility site for more information.

Diversity

At DLA Piper, our people reflect the diversity of our communities and our global marketplace. Our efforts to understand, value and incorporate differences are at the heart of our inclusive culture.

The different perspectives and experiences our people bring mean we provide sophisticated solutions that give our clients strategic advantage.

Global sustainability initiative

In January 2007 we introduced a Global Sustainability Initiative that affirms our commitment to reducing our environmental impact and conducting our business responsibly. Ours is a living strategy that changes and adapts as we respond to the demands and challenges of creating a more environmentally responsible business.

We were the first in the legal field to achieve ISO 14001 certification across all the continents in which we operate, making meaningful changes to our business in the key areas of energy, waste, travel and procurement.

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