Steptoe LLP

Steptoe LLP is a Washington, D.C.-headquartered law firm with approximately 430 attorneys and offices in New York, Chicago, London, Brussels, and other international cities. Founded in 1945, Steptoe has built a nationally recognized practice in international trade, customs, and government regulatory work, areas where its D.C. location and deep agency relationships provide a significant competitive advantage. The firm generates profits per partner of approximately $2.4 million and holds the #1 ranking in the country for international trade and customs law.

Steptoe holds Band 1 rankings in Chambers USA for International Trade, Customs, National Security, and Government Regulatory. The firm's international trade practice is the most recognized in the country, handling trade remedy cases, customs disputes, sanctions compliance, export controls, and CFIUS reviews. Its national security practice advises companies and governments on classified matters, foreign investment screening, and supply chain security. Steptoe's litigation department handles complex commercial disputes, government investigations, and white-collar defense, and the firm maintains a strong government affairs practice leveraging its D.C. headquarters.

Steptoe uses a free-market assignment system. The firm recruits through on-campus interviews and resume collections at top law schools, and many of its summer associates ultimately join the firm full-time. The summer program is designed for both first- and second-year law students, with a class of approximately 15 to 25 associates. Associates report that Steptoe's mid-size positioning, large enough for sophisticated work but small enough for early responsibility, is a genuine differentiator. The firm's culture is described as intellectually rigorous and collaborative, with partners who are deeply engaged in associate development.

Steptoe's dominance in international trade gives it a distinctive identity at a time when tariffs, sanctions, and supply chain regulation are among the most consequential issues in the global economy. The firm's expertise in customs, export controls, and economic sanctions positions it at the center of policy debates that are reshaping international commerce. For students interested in trade law, national security, or government regulatory work, Steptoe offers a platform where these practices are the firm's defining strength rather than a secondary capability.