Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells Mourns the Passing of William P. Rogers; Noted International Statesman and Leader of Law Firm was 87.

Business Editors & Legal Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 3, 2001

William P. Rogers, senior partner of the global law firm Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells LLP, who served in the Cabinets of Presidents Eisenhower and Nixon, died at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland at 10:00 p.m. last night at the age of 87. The cause of death was congestive heart failure.

"We are greatly saddened by Bill Rogers' passing," said Laurence E. Cranch, managing partner of Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells. "He was a superb lawyer and good friend and possessed a keen sense of humor. His leadership was instrumental in creating what is today the world's largest law firm. He will be missed by everyone."

William P. Rogers' career in the practice of law and in the nation's service is recognized as one of America's most distinguished. The senior partner of Rogers & Wells since 1973, Mr. Rogers was called on to serve as U.S. Attorney General in one administration and as U.S. Secretary of State in another.

Mr. Rogers began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney for New York County under Thomas E. Dewey (1938-1942) and Frank S. Hogan (1945-1947). During the intervening war years, he was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, serving on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. He became Chief Counsel to the Senate War Investigating Committee (1947), popularly known as the Truman Committee, and thereafter to its successor, the Permanent Senate Investigations Committee.

He joined the law firm, then known as Dwight, Harris, Koegel & Caskey, in 1949, opening its Washington office. The firm, now known as Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells, will move its Washington office into the new William P. Rogers Building at 2001 K Street, NW on Monday.

Mr. Rogers was appointed by President Eisenhower as Deputy Attorney General of the United States (1953-1957) and later as Attorney General of the United States (1957-1961).

He then returned to the firm in 1961, which became known as Royal, Koegel & Rogers, building an illustrious legal career before he returned to Government. He appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court in successful arguments of two of the most important First Amendment cases of our time, New York Times v. Sullivan and The Associated Press v. Walker.

He was appointed by President Johnson as U.S. Representative to the 20th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (1965) and served on the President's National Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration (1965 -1967).

Mr. Rogers was appointed by President Nixon as the 55th Secretary of State of the United States (1969 - 1973).

He returned again to the firm, which became Rogers & Wells, in 1973. That same year, he received the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. Mr. Rogers was appointed by President Reagan as Chairman of the Presidential Commission to investigate the Space Shuttle Challenger accident in 1986.

Mr. Rogers received an A.B. from Colgate University in 1934 and an LL.B. from Cornell Law School in 1937. A member of Delta Theta Phi and the Order of the Coif, he served as associate editor of the Cornell Law Quarterly. Mr. Rogers received honorary doctorates from Duquesne, Loyola, Columbia, St. Lawrence, Washington-Jefferson, Middlebury, Clarkson and Colgate Universities. He also served on Colgate's Board. He also served on the corporate Boards of Merrill Lynch, Volvo and Republic Bank, among others.

Rogers & Wells, through a historic merger on January 1, 2000 with Clifford Chance of the U.K. and Germany's Punder, Volhard, Weber & Axster, became Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells LLP. Clifford Chance is now the largest fully integrated law firm in the world with 29 offices in 19 countries.

William P. Rogers was born on June 23, 1913 in Norfolk, New York. A resident of Bethesda, Md., he is survived by his wife, Adele; a daughter, Dale Rogers Marshall of Norton, MA.; three sons, Anthony Wood Rogers of Newton, MA., Jeffrey Langston Rogers of Portland OR., and Douglas Langston Rogers of Columbus, OH.; eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.