Pepper Hamilton history

The firm was founded in 1890 in Philadelphia by George Wharton Pepper, who joined the practice of Bayard Henry.

He would eventually become best known, however, as a constitutional lawyer, though his first case before the Supreme Court in 1894 was unsuccessful.

1900: The firm is renamed Henry, Pepper, Bodine & Pepper.

In 1920, Pepper's name was added to the law firm's, now known as Henry, Pepper, Bodine & Pepper.

In 1926, the firm's original name partner, Henry, died, and Pepper lost his bid for reelection to the Senate.

Some Jamieson Moore lawyers joined other law firms as the firm founded in 1927 dissolved.

1928: Pepper returns to the law firm.

By 1940, Pepper's firm was known as Pepper, Bodine & Stokes.

In 1950, Hamilton started the law firm's pro bono tradition by representing Harry Gold, a colleague of the infamous Rosenbergs, who had confessed to spying for the Soviet Union.

In 1954, the Pepper firm and another Philadelphia law firm — Evans, Bayard & Frick — merged as Pepper, Bodine, Frick, Scheetz & Hamilton creating a 35-lawyer entity.

In 1955, Hamilton took over the position of chairman from Pepper.

1960: Firm merges with Moffett, Frye & Leopold and is renamed Pepper Hamilton & Scheetz.

In 1963 Pepper attorney Phil Strubing represented The Curtis Publishing Company when it was sued by Wally Butts, the University of Georgia athletic director, and University of Alabama football coach Bear Bryant.

Butts (1967). Although Strubing and the firm ultimately lost the case, the firm regarded its work as helping to clarify several issues surrounding libel law.

In 1969, the Pepper law firm moved outside of Philadelphia for the first time, opening branches in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Two years later attorney Strubing was named chairman of the firm.

In 1975 it was involved when Congress created Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) as a government-owned entity to take over bankrupt northeastern railroads.

Following the 1979 accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, the Pepper law firm represented liability insurers against thousands of claims.

In 1986, John G. Harkins, Jr., became chairman of the firm.

The firm’s first overseas office was established in London in 1987 under the leadership of new chairman John G. Harkins, Jr.

In 1988 the Pepper law firm represented the Swiss manufacturer Schindler Holding AG when it acquired the Westinghouse Elevator Company from the Westinghouse Electric Company.

1990: An office in New York City opens.

Galanter, M., and T. Palay, Tournament of Lawyers: The Transformation of the Big Law Firm, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993.

Nevertheless, the firm continued to grow, establishing a new office in Pittsburgh in 1995.

1997: The firm becomes a limited liability partnership (LLP) and shortly thereafter shortens its name to Pepper & Hamilton LLP.

In 1999 the firm brought in $125.5 million, a 15.1 percent increase over the year before.

Then in 2000 Pepper Hamilton and the U.K. firm McGrigor Donald began a close association to benefit their increasing number of clients with international dealings.

Effective January 1, 2001, Pepper Hamilton merged with Jamieson Moore Peskin & Spicer of Princeton, New Jersey.

In 2007, the partnership elected Nina M. Gussack as chairwoman of Pepper's Executive Committee, the first woman to be elected to that position.

Pepper partner A. Michael Pratt became the Philadelphia Bar Association’s 81st Chancellor in 2008.

Troutman Pepper was formed in July 2020 when two great law firms with storied histories joined to form a new firm with greater depth and breadth of talent and service.

We’re proud to be among BTI’s 2021 Client Service A-Team, and to earn Law Firm Innovator honors from The Legal Intelligencer for a custom, AI-powered solution for more efficient and equitable project staffing.