Steven Davis and the Rise and Fall of Dewey & LeBoeuf

How does a law firm disappear? Greed? Mismanagement? Fraud? Bad luck? On May 28, 2012, Dewey & LeBoeuf, the product of a merger between two storied New York law firms, filed for bankruptcy. Hundreds of lawyers and staff lost their jobs. The firm's leaders were indicted for fraud. It was the biggest law firm collapse in history.
At its peak, Dewey & LeBoeuf had more than 1,300 lawyers and 26 offices around the world. The firm's leader, an ambitious lawyer named Steven Davis, had a vision to create a lasting global megafirm to rival the likes of Skadden and Cleary Gottlieb. In the decade since the firm's demise, Steven Davis has never fully told his side of the story. Until now.
In this short documentary, Bloomberg Law asks Davis about the years, months, and weeks leading to his firm's collapse, the decisions he made and, looking back, whether he would have done anything differently.
The film also features interviews with: David Lat, former editor of Above the Law, who covered Dewey's fall; Vivia Chen, a columnist for Bloomberg Law who writes about the legal industry; and David Wilkins, a legal industry scholar at Harvard Law School.
Directed by Josh Block and Andrew Satter.

[@Loppol629]

Steve sounds and look like he hasn’t slept a day since they disbanded and he’s forever heartbroken. I just want to give him a hug and tell him he tried as hard as he could.

[@VeeBee189]

10+ years later and I still miss Dewey Ballantine immensely. ☹️

[@vittoriaconn958]

I am feeling extraordinarily sad. All of us - legal and admin - should have been able to finish our careers there, and future generations are denied the opportunity we had to work for what had been an amazing firm and develop friendships that feel a lot more like family.

[@VeeBee189]

I agree with you 100% Vittoria. This video almost brought me to tears thinking about what we lost as legacy Dewey Ballantine administrative staff who had planned to finish our careers in that storied firm. 10 years later and I STILL miss Dewey Ballantine 🥲

[@ChristopherFoderinghamGarraway]

I respect someone who can accept responsibility for a consequence without shirking or apportioning fault. For that unflinching accountability, I commend Mr. Davis

[@gissellealarcon8277]

will always be one of my favorite places to have worked.

[@martingantenbein176]

Hi, does anyone know the title and interpret of the outro music, starting around 16:46? Many thanks.

[@Hypnopomp]

As a former associate with pre-merger LeBoeuf, I say, this couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of guys and gals. My only regret is that some of the partners from LeBoeuf (M**Rae, D*e, S*iler) had soft landings. I still hold out hope that karma will eventually catch up with those miserable people.

[@reyrey4780]

SDC got over he's connected to Soprano

[@skullandbones1832]

❤️

[@Roger-do1dy]

Well Well Well Steven you should of been in banking, you would of got a bailout and no chargers, just do better next time wall street

[@jblue2234]

Dewey Cheatum and Howe… anyone?

[@danieltakaki1]

Stroock & Stroock