Wolf Popper LLP is a nationally recognized law firm with decades of experience advocating for investors, consumers, and businesses in complex matters across the United States and internationally.

More Than 80 Years of Experience

Founded in 1945 by Benedict Wolf and Martin Popper, Wolf Popper LLP was built on a commitment to justice, integrity, and service. Leaving public service to establish their own practice, Benedict Wolf—formerly the National Labor Relations Board’s First Secretary and Chief Trial Examiner—and Martin Popper—a Consultant to the U.S. Delegation at the Founding Conference of the United Nations—brought a spirit of public purpose into private practice. From their first office at 160 Broadway in New York City, Wolf and Popper established a tradition of principled advocacy that continues to define the firm’s work more than eight decades later.

Committed to Constitutional Rights

In its early years, Wolf Popper LLP played a pivotal role in defending constitutional rights during one of the most turbulent periods in American history. During the McCarthy era and the Red Scare of the 1940s, many artists and filmmakers were targeted for their political beliefs and compelled to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Pursuing a goal of strengthening—not silencing—the American democratic system, Wolf Popper stood at the forefront of these battles, defending the First Amendment rights of the so-called “Hollywood Ten,” among them some of the most influential creative voices of the time. The firm also represented, in various legal matters, several of those artists, including Paul Robeson, Ring Lardner Jr., Dalton Trumbo, and Albert Maltz, reinforcing its enduring commitment to justice, free expression, and the rule of law.

Leading the Fight Against Fraud

Wolf Popper LLP was among the first law firms in the nation to pioneer Securities Litigation work—on behalf of shareholders who had been defrauded or treated unfairly—a legacy that continues today through the firm’s  Portfolio Monitoring Services for institutional investors. The firm’s work in this area began in 1957 with the landmark case Bauer v. Servel, Inc., 168 F. Supp. 478 (S.D.N.Y. 1958)—one of the earliest examples of shareholder litigation seeking accountability from corporate issuers. Since that time, Wolf Popper has been recognized by courts nationwide for its “extraordinary” and “highly expert” representation of clients in securities and complex litigation, cementing its role as a national leader in protecting investor rights and market integrity.

Diversity and Inclusion as Core Values

Long before diversity and inclusion became industry standards, Wolf Popper LLP championed equality and opportunity within the legal profession. In 1961, Shirley Thau became a partner in the firm’s Securities Litigation Department—an extraordinary achievement at a time when women lawyers were still routinely excluded from advancement. (For perspective, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who graduated joint first in her class from Columbia Law School in 1959, famously struggled to secure employment as a lawyer). A pioneer in her own right, Thau was an active member of the New York Women’s Bar Association, serving as its President from 1964 to 1965. Her trailblazing career embodied Wolf Popper’s enduring commitment to equity, integrity, and leadership.

Standing Up For Civil Rights

In the early 1960s, busloads of students known as the Freedom Riders traveled from northern states to Mississippi to support the right of every American to vote. Among them was Andrew Goodman, a 20-year-old college student whose disappearance, along with two other young civil rights workers, would become a defining moment in the movement. Following the students’ disappearance, Martin Popper met with Andrew Goodman’s parents and President Lyndon B. Johnson, urging federal intervention. As a direct result of that meeting, the investigation was elevated from a local matter to a federal case. The FBI established headquarters in the Goodmans’ New York apartment and worked closely with Wolf and Popper until the tragic discovery of the three young men’s bodies, murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Through its advocacy and perseverance, Wolf Popper LLP stood firmly for civil rights and equal justice under the law, reflecting the same moral courage that continues to guide the firm today.

Advocating For Consumers

Wolf Popper LLP has long stood as a champion for consumers who have been misled, overcharged, or defrauded. The firm represents individuals and groups facing deceptive practices—whether through unjust medical billing, false product claims, or abusive investment, insurance, or lending schemes—through its Consumer Litigation & Consumer Fraud Class Actions practice. In every case, Wolf Popper pursues accountability and fairness with the same resolve that has defined its work for decades. Courts have praised the firm’s consumer advocacy as “lawyering of the highest quality,” a reflection of its enduring commitment to protecting the public from corporate misconduct.

Effective, Relevant, and Future-Focused

For many years, Wolf Popper has been consistently ranked among the Top 50 North American plaintiff law firms for securities-related class action settlements by ISS's Securities Class Action Services (SCAS). Learn more about the firm’s legacy, leadership, and ongoing commitment to justice on our Firm Overview.