Jenner & Block history

With the deaths of founding partners Jacob Newman and Henry Stern in late 1928, the firm needed new lawyers of their stature to help serve its growing client base.

Chicago utility czar Samuel Insull retained the firm to represent him in 1934 when the federal government charged him with fraud and violations of the Bankruptcy Act.

In 1949, Preston Tucker, developer of the revolutionary Tucker car, was charged in Chicago with fraud and violations of Federal Securities Laws.

The name of the firm was changed to Raymond Mayer Jenner & Block in 1964 after Samuel W. Block became a name partner.

In 1965, the firm began representing a prominent Chicago cardiologist whose long fight against the Committee would endure up to its dying days.

In 1969, it was shortened to its present form.

As a result of the Stamler case, HUAC was abolished in 1975.

In September 1982, Jenner & Block established an office in Washington, DC.

In 1983, Partner Jerold S. Solovy helped set an important precedent regarding commercial speech in the United States Supreme Court decision in Bolger v.

In The American Lawyer’s annual guide of leading pro bono firms, the firm has placed among the leading 10 pro bono programs every year since the survey began in 1990.

Pursley has adamantly maintained his innocence since his conviction for first-degree murder during the course of an attempted robbery in 1993.

In May 1997, Partner Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. was appointed co-managing partner of the firm’s D.C. office.

In 2000, Partner Thomas P. Sullivan and Senator Paul Simon, right, co-chaired the Governor's Commission on Capital Punishment to examine the administration of the death penalty in Illinois.

In 2003, the firm helped clients close several multibillion-dollar mergers and corporate financings, including what was believed at the time to be the largest corporate issuance of securities in history.

Jenner & Block received the 2004 John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award from the Illinois State Bar Association, a great affirmation of our dedication and commitment to pro bono advocacy.

In October 2005, Jenner & Block opened an office in New York at 919 Third Avenue to enhance the delivery of the firm’s full service litigation and transactional capabilities to our existing and future global clients.

Our litigators secured significant victories in 2006 on behalf of the world’s leading entertainment companies and associations, literally defining the rules of the road for revenue generation in the digital realm.

In 2007, Jenner & Block continued to achieve successes for clients in multibillion-dollar business disputes, False Claims Act claims, intellectual property matters and white collar defense.

The American Lawyer magazine recognized Jenner & Block as the top law firm in the country for pro bono service in its 2008 “Pro Bono Honor Roll.” The recognition highlights the firm’s unwavering commitment to our community and underscores the remarkable depth and diversity of our pro bono program.

In April 2009, Jenner & Block opened an office in downtown Los Angeles landmark Liberty Tower at 633 West 5th Street.

The year 2010 began with attention again focused on the Lehman Bankruptcy matter.

On January 26, 2011, a team including Robert Stauffer, Andrew Vail and Kyle Palazzolo achieved a groundbreaking result in a pro bono post-conviction case on behalf of client Patrick Pursley.