Financial Times Recognizes Crowell & Moring as Among Top 20 Innovative Law Firms in North America in 2017

Firm ranked #2 in “Enabling Business Growth” and #10 in “Rule of Law and Access to Justice” categories

Washington – December 15, 2017: The Financial Times ranked Crowell & Moring 20th overall in its “Most Innovative North American Law Firms and Legal Service Providers 2017” report. In addition, the firm tied for second in the “Enabling Business Growth” category for its work in securing a historic FinTech investment, and was recognized in the “Rule of Law and Access to Justice” category for its efforts in representing victims of terror. The annual report recognizes firms based on the originality of their legal work, the rationale behind their strategy, and the impact of the work on the client's business.

This marks the third time Crowell & Moring has been named to the FT25, the Financial Times’ ranking of “the most innovative” law firms and legal services providers across North America.

In the Enabling Business Growth category, Crowell & Moring earned the #2 ranking, and was honored as “highly commended,” for its role as lead counsel to R3, a financial technology innovation company, in securing the world’s largest investment in distributed ledger technology to date. The deal involved negotiating and securing $107 million in investments from more than 40 global financial institutions. The Financial Times commended partner Mitchell L. Rabinowitz as leading legal counsel in the deal. The Enabling Business Growth category covers innovations across strategy, use of technology, developing talent, and new or improved business and delivery models.

In the Rule of Law and Access to Justice category, Crowell & Moring gained the #10 ranking, and was honored as “commended,” for its “instrumental role in establishing the first-ever state-sponsored fund for victims of terrorism abroad, providing an avenue for victims’ families to seek compensation,” the FT said. Congress passed the legislation in 2015 to create the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. The fund opened in 2017, paying out more than $1 billion to more than 2,000 claimants. Victims are compensated through penalty funds derived from terrorism-related sanctions.

FT noted the firm’s work in helping shepherd the necessary legislation through Congress. This category ranks initiatives that seek to uphold the rule of law and improve avenues for access to justice.

The Financial Times, an international news organization, partnered with RSG Consulting to evaluate more than 500 submissions for the report from 79 law firms and legal service providers and for 85 in-house legal teams. RSG Consulting conducted interviews with more than 600 clients, lawyers, executives, and experts to assess each submission. Each submission is scored out of 10 points for originality, leadership, and impact for a maximum score of 30. The results were “benchmarked to arrive at the final rankings.”

Crowell & Moring’s ranking in the FT25 is based on the combined points of the submissions for R3 and the victims of terror compensation fund. The firm was also ranked in the FT25 in 2012 and 2013. The FT Innovative Lawyers series has ranked North American law firms since 2010.

Read the full FT report here.

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About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, London, and Brussels.