Herbert M. Wachtell

Herbert M. Wachtell is a founding partner of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, recognized for his leadership in complex litigation and significant contributions to legal scholarship. His career reflects decades of impactful advocacy, guiding clients through demanding disputes and shaping modern practice through extensive writing and thought leadership.

Herbert earned a B.S. from New York University in 1952, graduating from Phi Beta Kappa, and an LL.B. from New York University School of Law in 1954, where he was a Root-Tilden Scholar and a member of the Order of the Coif. He later received an LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 1955 and served as Editor of the NYU Law Review.

Throughout his career, Herbert has built a reputation for excellence in litigation and appellate advocacy. His service as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York strengthened his courtroom foundation, and he later authored the seminal multi-edition treatise New York Practice Under the CPLR, helping practitioners navigate procedural law with clarity and precision.

Herbert has guided clients and legal institutions with insight, contributing to widely read publications on corporate governance, state law, preemption issues, and attorney-client privilege. His analyses in respected forums, including Harvard Law School’s governance platform, have shaped the way courts and practitioners understand evolving doctrines.

A respected member of the profession, Herbert is a Fellow of both the American Bar Foundation and the American College of Trial Lawyers. His involvement with the American Law Institute, the American Bar Association, and the New York City Bar Association reflects a longstanding commitment to strengthening legal standards and advancing the profession.

Through scholarship, advocacy, and institutional leadership, Herbert M. Wachtell has influenced generations of lawyers and contributed meaningfully to the development of modern legal practice.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founding Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
• Member, New York State Bar Association
• Member, New York City Bar Association
• Member, New York Bar Foundation
• Member, American Bar Association
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Member, American Law Institute
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Licensed State

• New York

Education

• Harvard Law School
  Master of Law (LLM)
• New York University School of Law
  Bachelor of Law (LLB)
• New York University
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges