Firm History

Four partners, three associates, and three assistants left America’s oldest law firm to start a new litigation firm in Center City Philadelphia: Weber, Goldstein, Greenberg, and Gallagher.

In less than a year, we more than doubled in size, completing 1992 with 16 attorneys. This remarkable growth served as the cornerstone for our pioneering law firm dedicated to serving clients with unwavering dedication, fostering innovation, and propelling growth. 

Marking our first expansion beyond Pennsylvania, Weber Gallagher opened an office in New Jersey. This move better positioned us to serve clients in New Jersey, further solidifying our commitment to meeting their diverse needs across various jurisdictions and practices.

Formerly known as Weber, Goldstein, Greenberg, and Gallagher, our firm changed its name to our current name, Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires and Newby LLP. While our name evolved, Weber Gallagher's commitment to excellence remained unwavering, and our legacy of trusted counsel and client-centric approach continued to define our brand.

Though faced with the Great Recession, real estate collapses, pandemic closures, and times of radical retrenchment, the firm continued to thrive. Following the 2007 economic recession, which presented the greatest challenges to law practices since the depression, our firm continued to grow. What is more, we had no layoffs, we continued to hire summer law clerks, graduating attorneys, and lateral partners. We inaugurated fresh offices, acquired additional clients, and our balance sheet provided the sought-after stability for both attorneys and clients alike.

Our firm continued its growth throughout the mid-Atlantic region with the opening of an office in Wilmington, Delaware in 2009. This expansion broadened our impact in the region and enhanced our ability to provide exceptional legal counsel to clients in Delaware and beyond.

In 2012, Weber Gallagher instituted the Women’s Initiative to support and develop the careers of women associates and partners, and to reach out to women in the community. Shortly thereafter, Weber Gallagher partnered with educational institutions, from high schools to law schools, to give chances to those in both underserved and underrepresented communities to reach the goal of becoming an attorney.

For over 30 years, our firm has looked ahead of the curve and the inevitable change that comes to any profession and its clients. In 2018, two years prior to the pandemic, we invested heavily to advance our information technology platform. This helped make the firm’s practices as efficient and advanced as possible while continuing to implement new technology as it becomes available.  During this year, we recognized the need for modernization, change, and overhead control. We became among the first to implement hybrid work policies to increase work flexibility and reduce the costly real estate footprint. 

Weber Gallagher reached a significant milestone in 2018 with the expansion of our footprint into New York City. Situated in the vibrant hub of Times Square at 1500 Broadway, our new office represented a strategic move in our growth plan, enabling us to better serve clients in the new jurisdiction.

When a global pandemic made daily office work impossible, the firm was ready, having previously launched and adopted a firmwide hybrid work model – as both a morale-boosting and a cost-cutting measure. The firm had the foresight to get ahead of this trend years before the legal industry embraced remote work out of pandemic-induced necessity. Weber Gallagher attorneys also took leadership roles in keeping court systems functioning by encouraging the adoption of hybrid models for court appearances and other litigation needs, helping to keep courts functioning and client cases moving. 

In 2022, Weber Gallagher selected a designated leader for our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee and initiatives. The firm’s DEI leader works with the firm’s senior leadership on all strategic initiatives to ensure that a DEI perspective is always taken into consideration. The role is integral to the firm’s multifaceted approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Welcoming two powerhouse lawyers, added to the firm’s prominent insurance practice and expanded its geographical reach to Chicago. This move marked a milestone in our expansion, complementing our growth strategy and providing our clients with expanded services and resources to maintain our strong reputation.

Additionally in 2023,  we established an AI Task Force, composed of forward-thinking individuals, to explore and leverage the vast potential of AI within our firm. Our firm believes that by harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we can shape the future of our profession and enhance the services we offer to our clients. In recent years, AI has emerged as a groundbreaking technology with the potential to revolutionize the legal landscape. 

With the opening of our 11th office in the beginning of 2024, Weber Gallagher expanded into the Florida market with our Miami office. This expansion emphasized our dedication to addressing clients' needs across various jurisdictions and practices, aligning seamlessly with our ongoing commitment to growth and enhancing client services. By October 2024, we further extended our footprint with a satellite office in Maryland, our 12th office, positioning us to better serve businesses in the region with top-tier legal counsel across key practice areas.

Weber Gallagher broadened its footprint in New York with the opening of a new Long Island office, marking the firm’s thirteenth location nationwide and second in the state. The expansion reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its presence in key markets and enhancing client service capabilities. Entering Long Island builds upon years of steady growth across the Northeast and underscores the firm’s strategy of investing in regions experiencing rising demand for its services.