Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C. is a large
U.S. law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients (individuals or corporations) about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to r ...
and
lobbying group with offices in the
Southeastern United States and
Washington, D.C. ''
Fortune
Fortune may refer to:
General
* Fortuna or Fortune, the Roman goddess of luck
* Luck
* Wealth
* Fortune, a prediction made in fortune-telling
* Fortune, in a fortune cookie
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''The Fortune'' (1931 film) ...
'' has selected Baker Donelson as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For nine times, citing the firm's commitment to diversity, public service and pro bono work.
History
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz traces its roots back to the firm of Baker, Worthington, Crossley & Stansberry, founded in 1888 in
Huntsville, Tennessee by James F. Baker. James Baker's son,
Howard Baker Sr., who served as a
United States Representative from
Tennessee, and his grandson,
Howard Baker Jr.
Howard Henry Baker Jr. (November 15, 1925 June 26, 2014) was an American politician and diplomat who served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1967 to 1985. During his tenure, he rose to the rank of Senate Minority Leader and the ...
, who served as
majority leader of the
United States Senate and
White House Chief of Staff, were also lawyers at the firm. Howard Baker Jr. was the last lawyer at the original Huntsville office, which closed after his death in 2014.
The current firm, headquartered in Memphis, is the result of a series of mergers of many different predecessor firms spread throughout the
Southern United States.
Practice areas
In addition to its broad-based
litigation
-
A lawsuit is a proceeding by a party or parties against another in the civil court of law. The archaic term "suit in law" is found in only a small number of laws still in effect today. The term "lawsuit" is used in reference to a civil actio ...
practice, the firm has practices in
corporate law,
mergers & acquisitions,
labor and employment,
real estate,
bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor ...
,
health law,
intellectual property,
international business law
International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations".
International may also refer to:
Music Albums
* International (Kevin Michael album), ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011
* International (New Order album), ' ...
, and
tax law. It is also known as a large
lobbying firm.
[Catherine Ho]
"Daschle Leaves DLA Piper to Form Lobbying Group at Baker Donelson"
'' The Washington Post'', November 3, 2014 .
Notable lawyers and alumni
*
David Addington, former
Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the United States under
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce Cheney ( ; born January 30, 1941) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 46th vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. He is currently the oldest living former U ...
.
*
Howard Baker Sr., former
United States Representative from
Tennessee.
*
Howard Baker Jr.
Howard Henry Baker Jr. (November 15, 1925 June 26, 2014) was an American politician and diplomat who served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1967 to 1985. During his tenure, he rose to the rank of Senate Minority Leader and the ...
, former
U.S. Senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
and
United States Ambassador to Japan, later Senior Counsel to the firm before his death in 2014.
*
Catherine Crosby
The Miss Alabama competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Alabama in the annual Miss America Competition.
Alabama has won three Miss America titles: Deidre Downs in 2005, Heather Whitestone (the first deaf wo ...
, former
Miss Alabama 2003.
*
Tom Daschle
Thomas Andrew Daschle ( ; born December 9, 1947) is an American politician and lobbyist who served as a United States senator from South Dakota from 1987 to 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, he became U.S. Senate Minority Leader in 1995 an ...
, former
U.S. Senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
and
Senate Majority Leader.
*
Lewis Donelson
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C. is a large U.S. law firm and lobbying group with offices in the Southeastern United States and Washington, D.C. ''Fortune'' has selected Baker Donelson as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work ...
, former member of the
Memphis City Council
The Memphis City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Memphis, Tennessee. It is made up of 13 members: 7 single-district members and 6 "super district" members. Council members are elected to four-year terms with a two-t ...
and major figure within the Tennessee Republican Party.
*
James C. Duff
James C. Duff is a former director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. He served from 2006 to 2011, and again from 2015 to 2020.
The Newseum
From September 2011 to December 2014, Duff was chief executive officer of the Newseum, an ...
, former director of the
Administrative Office of the United States Courts.
*
Lawrence Eagleburger, former
Secretary of State under
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...
, served as a foreign policy advisor to the firm.
*
Nancy Johnson, former
Member,
United States House of Representatives from the state of
Connecticut.
*
Linda Klein,
Immediate Past President of the
American Bar Association.
*
Robb LaKritz, former
Advisor to the
Deputy Secretary of the United States Treasury
The United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, in the United States government, advises and assists the Secretary of the Treasury in the supervision and direction of the Department of the Treasury and its activities, and succeeds the Secret ...
, under
George W. Bush.
*
Ray Mabus, former
Secretary of the Navy under
Barack Obama, former
Governor of the
U.S. state of
Mississippi from 1988 to 1992, and former
United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1994 to 1996.
*
Tommy Parker,
United States District Judge of the
United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.
*
Ellen Tauscher, former
Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, former
Member,
United States House of Representatives for
California's 10th congressional district.
*
Joe D. Whitley
Joe Dally Whitley (born November 12, 1950) is an American lawyer from Georgia who was the first General Counsel for the United States Department of Homeland Security. He works in private practice at Baker Donelson and has been named a ''Super Lawye ...
, former General Counsel for the
United States Department of Homeland Security.
*
Barbara Comstock
Barbara Jean Comstock (née Burns; born June 30, 1959) is an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 10th congressional district from 2015 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was a member o ...
, former
Member,
United States House of Representatives from the state of
Virginia.
References
External links
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C. - Official HomepageChambers USA profilefrom
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
National Law Review Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz
Law firms established in 1888
Companies based in Memphis, Tennessee
Lobbying firms
1888 establishments in Tennessee
Law firms based in Tennessee