Coudert Brothers: 2a Legacy in Law: The History of America's First International Law Firm

Founded in 1857 by three sons of a French political refugee, Manhattan's Coudert Brothers law firm during three generations of family control handled litigation and estates reflecting American expansion and world influence. As seen in this partisan company history (written with the firm's cooperation), the partnership, always a gentlemen's enclave whose members were recruited from elite law schools, cultivated probity and good humor--and left the financial details to a ``Miss Bainbridge,'' who alone for 60 years knew where the money was. Coudert partners dealt with presidents, ambassadors, financiers and business leaders while unraveling intricate cases of corporate ownership and private situations worldwide. Particularly interesting here is the confidential go-between role of Coudert family members in allied arms buying during World War I and their interventionist support for England and France in World War II. Today the Manhattan firm has branches in California at Los Angeles and San Jose and abroad in Sydney, Shanghai, Tokyo and Moscow. The Couderts became ``pre-eminent'' in international law, according to freelance witer Veenswijk ``because they were gentlemen.'' (Feb.)