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 

Discover the past that has shaped Cadwalader.