Goodwin Procter
Professional services
UnclaimedAn international law firm serving clients in complex transactions, litigation, regulatory matters, intellectual property, technology, life sciences, and financial services.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Goodwin Procter LLP is an American multinational law firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1912 by Harvard classmates Robert Eliot Goodwin and Joseph Osborne Procter Jr., the firm began as a Boston practice and developed into a large international professional-services organization. Its work spans complex corporate transactions, private equity, financial institutions, real estate capital markets, securities litigation, intellectual property, technology, life sciences, regulatory counseling, white-collar defense, and other high-stakes disputes. The firm's early history combined commercial legal work with prominent public-interest and litigation matters. In its first year, Robert Goodwin and Amos Taylor represented a claimant in litigation arising from the sinking of RMS Titanic. Goodwin also became involved in proceedings connected with the Charles Ponzi fraud and later served as a bankruptcy referee. During the First World War, Robert Goodwin served in France and eventually commanded the 101st Field Artillery. The firm expanded its reputation through the recruitment of litigators and tax lawyers, becoming known for much of the twentieth century as Goodwin, Procter & Hoar. The Depression and New Deal eras broadened the firm's practice. Bank liquidations, financial regulation, public investigations, and constitutional matters created a foundation for the firm's later focus on sophisticated financial and regulatory work. Its lawyers participated in investigations of Massachusetts public corruption and parole practices. After the Second World War, Leonard Wheeler and Frank Wallis took part in the American prosecution at the Nuremberg Trials. The firm also contributed to financial and real-estate legislation: Allan Higgins and Charlie Post helped develop the Real Estate Investment Trust Act, while Don Hurley worked on an amendment to the Bank Holding Company Act. Goodwin's modern growth accelerated from the 1990s onward. It opened offices outside Boston in Washington, D.C., in 1994 and New York in 1997, expanded its litigation and intellectual-property capabilities through lateral combinations, and merged with Washington litigation and regulatory firm Shea & Gardner in 2004. More than 60 attorneys from Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault joined in 2005 after that firm dissolved, substantially strengthening Goodwin's technology and intellectual-property presence. The firm added Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2006, Silicon Valley in 2007, and London and Hong Kong in 2008. Under the leadership of Regina Pisa, who became the first woman to chair and serve as managing partner of an AmLaw 100 firm, Goodwin grew from a predominantly Boston practice into a firm with offices across North America, Europe, and Asia. Subsequent expansion included Frankfurt, Paris, Munich, Luxembourg, Cambridge, Santa Monica, Singapore, and Philadelphia. The firm's stated market orientation centers on technology, life sciences, private equity, financial institutions, and real estate, sectors in which transactional, regulatory, financing, intellectual-property, and litigation needs frequently overlap. Goodwin marked its centennial in 2012 with approximately 850 lawyers and 720 professional staff and began an annual Days of Service program across its offices. It moved its Boston headquarters to the Seaport District in 2016 after more than a century at its former State Street location. The firm has advised clients on matters including Kyowa Kirin's acquisition of Orchard Therapeutics and fundraising by OpenAI, and in 2025 represented the Town of Milton, Massachusetts, in litigation concerning the state's multifamily-housing requirements near public transportation. The firm remains privately held and active, although its international office footprint continues to evolve; in 2025 it announced the planned closure of its Frankfurt office.
History
Goodwin Procter was established in Boston on July 1, 1912, when Robert Eliot Goodwin and Joseph Osborne Procter Jr., former Harvard classmates, opened a firm at 84 State Street. The practice soon handled matters that connected it with major events in American commercial and public life. Robert Goodwin and Amos Taylor represented Mary Newell in a claim against the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company arising from the 1912 Titanic disaster. Goodwin later served as bankruptcy referee in Middlesex County during the proceedings that followed Charles Ponzi's Boston pyramid scheme. The firm expanded its professional base during the 1910s and 1920s. Litigator Samuel Hoar V and tax lawyer Fred Tarbell Field joined, and the firm adopted the name Goodwin, Procter, Field & Hoar. After Field's appointment to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in 1929, the name became Goodwin, Procter & Hoar, which remained in use for decades. Robert Goodwin served in the First World War, eventually commanding the 101st Field Artillery and receiving the Distinguished Service Medal. The economic disruption of the Great Depression helped diversify the practice. Bank liquidations and new federal regulation generated substantial work, while the decline of some traditional Boston industries coincided with the rise of financial management and increasingly sophisticated financial transactions. Goodwin lawyers also worked on public investigations and policy matters. Samuel Hoar led a Massachusetts investigation into pardon and parole practices after controversy surrounding the 1938 pardon of organized-crime figure Raymond Patriarca; the inquiry contributed to changes in the state's pardon laws and the impeachment of a member of the Governor's Council. Decades later, lawyers from the firm again assisted the Commonwealth in examining alleged corruption in the parole system. Following the Second World War, Leonard Wheeler and Frank Wallis participated in the American case at the Nuremberg Trials. In private practice, the firm continued to build depth in tax, finance, litigation, and regulatory work. Allan Higgins and Charlie Post helped draft and secure passage of the Real Estate Investment Trust Act in 1960, legislation widely associated with the growth of the modern U.S. real-estate investment industry. In 1963, Don Hurley helped develop an amendment to the Bank Holding Company Act affecting single-bank holding companies and nonbank subsidiaries. Goodwin moved from its long-standing State Street premises to 28 State in 1969 and later to Exchange Place at 53 State Street in 1985. In 1987, for its seventy-fifth anniversary, the firm funded the SEED education initiative in Boston through a donation assembled from partner contributions. By the beginning of the 1990s it had approximately 280 lawyers and was described in Massachusetts legal coverage as the largest U.S. firm operating under one roof. Its first office beyond Boston opened in Washington, D.C., in 1994, followed by New York in 1997. New York growth included groups of lawyers from a northern New Jersey firm and a products-liability practice. Regina Pisa became chair and managing partner in 1998, the first woman to hold those positions at an AmLaw 100 firm. During her tenure, Goodwin expanded from about 300 lawyers primarily in Boston to more than 900 lawyers across eight offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The 2004 merger with Shea & Gardner strengthened litigation and regulatory capabilities. In 2005, the arrival of more than 60 attorneys from dissolved Boston firm Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault significantly enhanced Goodwin's technology and intellectual-property practices. The firm established a West Coast platform with Los Angeles and San Francisco offices in 2006 and Silicon Valley in 2007. Its international expansion began in earnest with London and Hong Kong in 2008. By its centennial in 2012, Goodwin had approximately 850 lawyers and 720 professional staff. It introduced an annual Days of Service program in connection with the anniversary. Frankfurt followed in 2015, Paris in 2016, and a move of the Boston headquarters to 100 Northern Avenue in the Seaport District later that year. Further offices opened in Santa Monica, Luxembourg, and Cambridge in 2019; Munich in 2022; Singapore in October 2022; and Philadelphia in January 2023. The firm now operates as a large international legal practice focused on complex transactional work, disputes, intellectual property, financial institutions, private equity, real estate, technology, life sciences, securities litigation, white-collar defense, and regulatory advice. Its office network has continued to change, including the announced closure of Frankfurt in 2025. Goodwin has also represented clients in significant transactions and disputes, including Kyowa Kirin's acquisition of Orchard Therapeutics, OpenAI fundraising matters, and Milton's housing-law litigation against Massachusetts.
- 2025
Frankfurt closure announced
[1]Goodwin announced plans to close its Frankfurt office while continuing to adjust its European operations.
- 2023
Philadelphia office opens
[1]The firm added Philadelphia to its U.S. office network.
- 2022
Munich and Singapore expansion
[1]Goodwin opened a second German office in Munich and a second Asian office in Singapore.
- 2016
Boston headquarters moves to the Seaport District
[1]After more than a century near State and Congress Streets, Goodwin moved its Boston headquarters to 100 Northern Avenue.
- 2012
Centennial year
[1]At its hundredth anniversary, the firm had approximately 850 lawyers and 720 professional staff and began its annual Days of Service program.
- 2008
International expansion begins
[1]Goodwin opened offices in London and Hong Kong, establishing an initial European and Asian presence.
- 2004
Merger with Shea & Gardner
[1]The Washington, D.C.-based litigation and regulatory firm joined Goodwin.
- 1998
Regina Pisa becomes chair and managing partner
[1]Pisa became the first woman to serve as chair and managing partner of an AmLaw 100 firm.
- 1994
First office outside Boston
[1]Goodwin opened an office in Washington, D.C., beginning its expansion beyond its Boston base.
- 1960
Real Estate Investment Trust Act contribution
[1]Tax partners Allan Higgins and Charlie Post helped draft and advance the Real Estate Investment Trust Act.
Products and positioning
A large international law firm positioned around complex transactions, high-stakes disputes, and sector-focused advice for technology, life sciences, private equity, financial institutions, and real estate clients.
Legal services
Corporate and transactional services
Advice on mergers and acquisitions, financings, securities, joint ventures, governance, and other complex corporate transactions. The practice supports companies, investors, and financial sponsors through deal structuring, execution, and related regulatory requirements.
Legal services
Private equity and investment funds
Counsel for private-equity sponsors, investment managers, and funds on fund formation, acquisitions, portfolio-company matters, exits, and associated regulatory and commercial issues. The practice has been a major part of Goodwin's European and global expansion.
Sector-focused legal services
Technology and life sciences
Legal support for technology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical-device, and other innovative businesses. Matters can include venture financing, licensing, intellectual property, commercial arrangements, public offerings, acquisitions, and disputes.
Legal services
Litigation and dispute resolution
Representation in high-stakes commercial disputes, securities litigation, intellectual-property cases, products liability, investigations, and other complex proceedings. Goodwin's litigation platform developed from its early Boston trial practice and later national expansion.
Legal services
Real estate and real estate capital markets
Advice on real-estate acquisitions, development, financing, investment vehicles, capital markets, and related disputes and regulatory matters. The firm's historical involvement with the Real Estate Investment Trust Act is part of its long association with this sector.
Legal services
Regulatory and white-collar services
Counsel and representation concerning regulatory investigations, enforcement matters, compliance, public policy, white-collar defense, and government inquiries. The practice reflects the firm's longstanding work on public investigations and financial regulation.
Controversies
2021
Goodwin Procter discloses data breach involving third-party vendor
Goodwin Procter disclosed that it was hacked through a third-party vendor used for large file transfers and that confidential information of some clients may have been accessed. The firm said it notified clients and hired a forensics expert to investigate.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Annual Days of Service
United States · Europe · Asia
Goodwin launched an annual community-service initiative as part of its centennial observance, with employees in its offices volunteering and supporting local communities.
Outcome. The program became an ongoing firm-wide community-engagement tradition.
- 1987SEED education initiative
Boston, United States
For its seventy-fifth anniversary, Goodwin funded Support for Early Educational Development through a contribution assembled from individual partner donations.
Outcome. The initiative directed funding toward public education in Boston.
Brand decisions
2025
Planned Frankfurt office closureStrategyBackground
Goodwin continued to adjust its European office network after a period of international expansion.
Action taken
The firm announced that it would close its Frankfurt office.
2008
International expansion into Europe and AsiaStrategyBackground
Goodwin extended its client-service model beyond the United States.
Action taken
The firm opened offices in London and Hong Kong.
Aftermath
These offices formed the initial base for later European and Asian expansion.
2006
West Coast expansionStrategyBackground
Goodwin pursued a broader U.S. platform to serve technology, life sciences, and other growth-sector clients.
Action taken
The firm opened offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, followed by Silicon Valley in 2007.
Aftermath
The expansion established a significant West Coast presence.
2005
Integration of Testa Hurwitz attorneysM&ABackground
Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault dissolved after having been a prominent Boston technology and intellectual-property firm.
Action taken
More than 60 attorneys from Testa Hurwitz joined Goodwin Procter.
Aftermath
The move materially strengthened Goodwin's technology and intellectual-property practices.
2004
Merger with Shea & GardnerM&ABackground
Goodwin sought to strengthen its litigation and regulatory capabilities through a combination with a Washington, D.C.-based mid-sized firm.
Action taken
Shea & Gardner merged into Goodwin Procter.
Aftermath
The combination expanded Goodwin's national litigation and regulatory platform.
Recent events
Reported
Goodwin Procter discloses data breach involving third-party vendor[3]
Goodwin Procter disclosed that it was hacked through a third-party vendor used for large file transfers and that confidential information of some clients may have been accessed. The firm said it notified clients and hired a forensics expert to investigate.
Sources3 sources
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