Covington & Burling
A Washington, D.C.-based international law firm known for complex litigation, transactions, regulatory counseling, public policy, and substantial pro bono work.
Last updated August 27, 2026
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Overview
Covington & Burling LLP is an American multinational law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. Founded on January 1, 1919, by Judge J. Harry Covington and Edward B. Burling, the firm developed a reputation as a prominent Washington law practice serving clients at the intersection of law, government, regulation, and public policy. It is commonly described as a white-shoe law firm, reflecting its long-standing position in high-value legal and advisory work. The firm's practice covers transactional matters, commercial and constitutional litigation, investigations, regulatory counseling, public policy, and intellectual property. Its work is particularly associated with heavily regulated sectors and matters involving government agencies, courts, legislatures, and international institutions. Areas connected with its public profile include food and drug law, health care, life sciences, technology, financial services, energy, defense, communications, and international trade. The firm also represents companies and public-sector clients in major disputes and policy matters. Covington began international expansion with the opening of a London office in 1988 and a Brussels office in 1990. In 1999, it combined with New York firm Howard, Smith & Levin, adding approximately 60 attorneys and supporting the establishment of Covington's first West Coast office, in San Francisco. The firm subsequently developed a broader network of offices in the United States and overseas, including locations in China, Germany, South Africa, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. In 2008, it entered a strategic alliance with Institution Quraysh for Law & Policy, a Qatar-based transnational law firm and think tank, to provide legal and consulting services in the Middle East. Covington's litigation history includes representation of corporate clients such as Alps Electric, Citibank, JPMorgan, the National Football League, and major pharmaceutical distributors and manufacturers. Its attorneys have also handled prominent constitutional, civil-rights, detainee, and public-law matters. The firm's pro bono practice has included representation in cases such as Buckley v. Valeo, Griffin v. Illinois, Korematsu v. United States, and District of Columbia v. Heller. It has represented detainees held at Guantanamo Bay and pursued claims concerning detainee access to courts, constitutional protections, and compliance with the Geneva Conventions. The firm maintains a significant community-oriented pro bono program in Washington, including attorney rotations with the Neighborhood Legal Services Program, the Children's Law Center, and Bread for the City. Its pro bono work became the subject of national political controversy in 2025 after attorneys provided free legal services to former Special Counsel Jack Smith. On February 25, 2025, President Donald Trump revoked security clearances held by Covington employees, citing the firm's representation of Smith. The episode illustrated the political sensitivity of the firm's work and the risks faced by law firms advising government officials and participating in politically consequential litigation. Covington remains an active international legal-services organization serving businesses, governments, institutions, and individuals. In the 2025 Vault Law 100, it was ranked fifteenth, according to the referenced profile.
History
Covington & Burling was established in Washington, D.C., on January 1, 1919, by Judge J. Harry Covington and Edward B. Burling. From its beginning, the firm was closely associated with sophisticated legal work involving public institutions, regulation, litigation, and national policy. Its Washington base helped shape a practice that combined courtroom advocacy with counseling on legislation, administrative action, and government decision-making. Over time, Covington expanded beyond traditional Washington practice while retaining that institutional identity. Its work came to include corporate transactions, commercial disputes, constitutional litigation, intellectual property, investigations, international trade, health care, life sciences, food and drug regulation, technology, and public policy. The firm has represented both private-sector clients and public-sector institutions, including companies in pharmaceuticals, health care distribution, financial services, technology, and consumer products. The firm's international development began with London in 1988 and Brussels in 1990. London gave Covington a base for cross-border commercial and regulatory work, while Brussels supported activity involving European institutions and policy. In 1999, Covington merged with Howard, Smith & Levin, a New York firm of approximately 60 attorneys. The combination strengthened its New York presence and was accompanied by the opening of the firm's first West Coast office in San Francisco. Later expansion added offices in China, Germany, South Africa, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, alongside offices elsewhere in the United States. In 2008, Covington entered a strategic alliance with Institution Quraysh for Law & Policy, a Qatar-based transnational law firm and think tank. The arrangement was intended to support joint legal and consulting services in the Middle East and reflected the firm's broader move toward international and multidisciplinary policy work. Covington has also built a substantial pro bono identity. Its attorneys have represented clients in significant constitutional and civil-rights cases, including Buckley v. Valeo, Griffin v. Illinois, Korematsu v. United States, and District of Columbia v. Heller. The firm represented detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, including Ahmed al-Ghailani and detainees from Yemen, Pakistan, and Algeria. That work contributed to litigation concerning detainees' constitutional and treaty-based rights, including the ability to challenge transfers into foreign custody. In 2007, attorneys reportedly devoted 3,022 hours to Guantanamo-related litigation, described as the firm's largest pro bono project that year. The firm's Washington community program has included six-month attorney rotations with the Neighborhood Legal Services Program, the Children's Law Center, and Bread for the City. This model connected a large international firm with local legal-aid organizations and people requiring direct assistance. Covington's pro bono work became politically contentious in 2025. The firm represented former Special Counsel Jack Smith without charge in connection with matters arising from his investigations of Donald Trump. On February 25, 2025, President Donald Trump revoked security clearances held by Covington employees, citing that representation. The episode placed the firm in a national debate over government retaliation, attorney independence, pro bono representation, and access to security-cleared work. Despite the controversy, Covington continued to be recognized as a leading global law firm, ranking fifteenth in the 2025 Vault Law 100 according to the referenced material.
- 2025
Security-clearance controversy
[1]The Trump administration revoked security clearances held by Covington employees after the firm provided pro bono representation to former Special Counsel Jack Smith.
- 2008
Strategic Middle East alliance
[1]Covington formed a strategic alliance with Qatar-based Institution Quraysh for Law & Policy to provide joint legal and consulting services in the Middle East.
- 2005
Guantanamo detainee-transfer ruling
[1]In March, litigation involving Covington-represented Guantanamo detainees produced a ruling that detainees could not be transferred to foreign custody without an opportunity to challenge the transfer in court.
- 1999
Merger with Howard, Smith & Levin
[1]Covington merged with the approximately 60-attorney New York firm Howard, Smith & Levin and opened its first West Coast office in San Francisco.
- 1990
Brussels office opened
[1]Covington opened an office in Brussels, strengthening its ability to advise on European regulatory and public-policy matters.
- 1988
London office opened
[1]The firm began its modern international office expansion by opening a London office.
- 1919
Firm founded in Washington, D.C.
[1]Judge J. Harry Covington and Edward B. Burling established Covington & Burling on January 1, 1919.
Products and positioning
A high-end international law firm with a Washington-centered strength in litigation, regulation, public policy, investigations, and highly regulated industries.
Legal services
Corporate and transactional services
Covington advises companies and institutions on corporate transactions and related strategic matters. The referenced material identifies transactional work as one of the firm's core service areas, although it does not provide a complete list of specific transaction types or representative mandates.
Legal services
Litigation and dispute resolution
The firm's litigation practice handles complex commercial, constitutional, public-law, and sector-specific disputes. Its reported clients and matters include financial institutions, the National Football League, pharmaceutical distributors, manufacturers, and parties involved in major constitutional and detainee-rights cases.
Legal services
Regulatory and public policy advice
Covington counsels clients on government regulation, legislative policy, enforcement, and administrative proceedings. Its Washington origins and international offices support matters involving agencies, legislatures, international institutions, and regulated industries.
Legal services
Food, drug, and health care law
Food and drug, health care, and life sciences work is among the firm's especially recognized areas. The practice serves clients facing regulatory, compliance, enforcement, transactional, and litigation issues in highly regulated medical and consumer-product markets.
Legal services
Pro bono representation
Covington provides legal services to people and organizations unable to afford representation. Its reported pro bono matters include constitutional litigation, civil-rights cases, Guantanamo detainee representation, local legal-aid rotations, and representation of former Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Controversies
2025
Revocation of security clearances after Jack Smith representation
On February 25, 2025, President Donald Trump revoked security clearances held by Covington employees. The stated reason was the firm's pro bono representation of former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who had brought criminal cases against Trump. The action generated controversy concerning government retaliation against a law firm, the independence of legal representation, and the consequences of politically sensitive pro bono work.
Brand decisions
2025
Pro bono representation of Jack SmithOtherBackground
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith faced legal matters connected with criminal cases he had brought against Donald Trump.
Action taken
Covington provided Smith with pro bono legal services. A disclosure cited in reporting stated that the services were valued at $140,000.
Aftermath
After Trump returned to office, the administration revoked security clearances held by Covington employees, citing the firm's representation of Smith.
Value of pro bono legal services disclosed by Smith's office. $140,000 (Disclosure dated January 10, 2025)
2008
Strategic alliance in the Middle EastStrategyBackground
Covington sought to support legal and consulting work in the Middle East through a local transnational platform.
Action taken
It entered a strategic alliance with Institution Quraysh for Law & Policy in Qatar.
Aftermath
The alliance was intended to enable joint legal and consulting services in the region.
1999
Combination with Howard, Smith & LevinM&ABackground
Covington pursued a stronger New York presence and broader national reach.
Action taken
The firm merged with Howard, Smith & Levin, a New York firm of approximately 60 attorneys, and opened a San Francisco office.
Aftermath
The combination expanded Covington's U.S. platform beyond Washington and supported subsequent geographic growth.
1988
Begin international office expansionStrategyBackground
The firm sought to extend its Washington-based legal and policy practice into international markets.
Action taken
Covington opened its first London office.
Aftermath
The London opening was followed by additional European and global offices, including Brussels in 1990.
Recent events
- 2025
Covington ranked among leading U.S. law firms in Vault Law 100[1]
Other
Covington was listed at number 15 in the 2025 Vault Law 100 ranking.
Sources2 sources
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