Hogan Lovells

Hogan & Hartson

The logo of Hogan & Hartson prior to the Hogan Lovells merger

Hogan & Hartson was founded by Frank J. Hogan in 1904. In 1925, Hogan was joined by Nelson T. Hartson, a former Internal Revenue Service attorney, and John William Buttson Guider. Hogan & Hartson then went into partnership in 1938 with Buttson as a silent partner.

In 1970, Hogan & Hartson became the first major firm to establish a separate practice group devoted exclusively to providing pro bono legal services. The Community Services Department (CSD) dealt with civil rights, environmental, homeless and other public interest groups. In 1990, Hogan & Hartson opened an office in London, their first outside the U.S.^[9]

In 2000, the firm expanded to Tokyo and Berlin (after poaching a team from the former German ally of UK firm Linklaters). The firm expanded its presence in New York and Los Angeles in 2002 when it acquired mid-sized law firm Squadron, Ellenoff, Plesent & Sheinfeld, a storied New York City-based practice with strengths in media, litigation and First Amendment law.^[10]

At the time of the merger, Hogan & Hartson was the oldest major law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States. It was a global firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in 27 offices worldwide, including offices in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Lovells

The logo of Lovells prior to the Hogan Lovells merger

Lovells traced its history in the UK back to 1899, when John Lovell set up on his own account at Octavia Hill, between St Paul's and Smithfield. He was later joined by Reginald White, a clerk in his previous firm, to whom he gave articles. In 1924, they were joined by Charles King, forming Lovell, White & King. Soon after formation, the firm moved to Thavies Inn at Holborn Circus and later to Serjeant's Inn, Fleet Street, before moving to 21 Holborn Viaduct in October 1977.

Lovells was formed as a result of a number of earlier mergers. In 1966, Lovell, White & King merged with Haslewoods, a firm with a much longer history of private client work. Haslewoods diverse clients included the Treasury Solicitor. In 1988, Lovell, White & King, which by then had a large international commercial practice, merged with Durrant Piesse, known, in particular, for its specialism in banking and financial services, forming Lovell White Durrant. It then changed to Lovells in 2000 when the firm merged with German law firm Boesebeck Droste. Other mergers then followed in other European countries during the early 2000s (decade).^[11]

In the early 2000s Lovells invested strongly in China, expanding is office in Beijing and opening an office in Shanghai becoming the second largest foreign firm in China. Following five years of growth, culminating in the opening of the firm's Madrid office in 2004, Lovells had a presence in every major European jurisdiction. In 2007, Lovells opened an office in Dubai, offering legal services to corporations, financial institutions and individuals in the Middle East and at the beginning of 2009 opened an office in Hanoi. In September 2009, Lovells opened an associated office in Riyadh.

At the time of the merger, Lovells was a London-based international law firm with over 300 partners and around 3,150 employees operating from 26 offices in Europe, Asia and the United States.

Hogan Lovells

The London office of Lovells in 2008, shortly before the merger with Hogan & Hartson.

Hogan & Hartson and Lovells announced their agreement to merge on 15 December 2009.^[12] Hogan Lovells was officially formed on May 1, 2010.

In December 2011 it was reported that Hogan Lovells would be moving to a single chairman model following the retirement of John Young.^[13]

In December 2013, Hogan Lovells merged with South African firm Routledge Modise. The addition of about 120 lawyers in the Johannesburg office make up the first physical location for Hogan Lovells in Africa although the firm maintains a presence in Francophone Africa through its Paris office.^[14]

Lobbying in the United States

Hogan Lovells is among the largest lobbying firms in the United States. Before the merger, by revenue, Hogan & Hartson was among the top five lobbying firms in the United States.^[28] Since the merger, the firm has remained among the largest lobbying firms, servicing $12.3 million in lobbying 2013.^[29]

South African Revenue Service (SARS) scandal

In October 2016, Hogan Lovells was dragged into the Jonas Makwaka investigation as part of the Zuma corruption scandal.^[30] The firm's role was "to conduct an independent investigation into allegations against Mr Jonas Makwakwa and Ms Kelly Ann Elskie".^[31] Although the report concluded that "disciplinary action should be taken", the document was widely seen as effectively a whitewash.^[32] Other international firms implicated in Zuma related scandals have included KPMG and McKinsey.