Davis Polk & Wardwell

Davis Polk is a large law firm in New York with strong litigation and corporate practices that are consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Related Topics:
Law firm - New York - Litigation - Corporate

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The firm currently represents many pro bono clients in addition to its mostly corporate workload. However, the history of one of the firm's partriarchs, John W. Davis, includes the ultimately failed representation of corporate america in its effort to undue Congress' pro-worker New Deal legislation through the federal courts. Though the New Deal faced early resistence from the Supreme Court it eventually was upheld after Franklin Roosevelt's threat to pack the court followed by the famed stitch in time that saved nine. In addition, Davis undertook the representation of the Topeka, Kansas Board of Education in Brown v. Board of Education. In the latter case, the firm argued unsuccefully that affording separate schools for black and white children comports with the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.

Related Topics:
John W. Davis - Corporate america - Supreme Court - Franklin Roosevelt's - Pack the court - Stitch in time that saved nine - Brown v. Board of Education - Constitution

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