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History
Cadwalader's longstanding tradition of providing our clients with unparalleled service and legal expertise began with the firm's founding in 1792. As one of the nation's oldest law firms (and the oldest continuing Wall Street law practice in the United States), our growth and development often paralleled the major economic, social, and political events that have shaped our nation and the world. The historical context behind our evolution from a one-person law practice to a thriving international law firm spans over 230 years.
The Growth of New York and the Legal Practice
1792
1818
1820
1823-78
1878
The Industrial Age and the Birth of the Corporate Law Firm
1880
1883
1889
World War I through the Great Depression
1914
1917
1929-30
World War II
1941
1942
1945
The Boom Years
1950-60
Lawyers Become Specialists
1970-80
Eve of the millennium
1992
1996
1997
The Millennium
2001
2002
2005
2006
2009
2010
2012
2014
2015
2018
2019
2020
2021