Dewey's Dead File Conundrum

Among the detritus of Dewey & LeBoeuf’s collapse are client files—hundred of thousands of boxes of unclaimed files that are sitting in offices and storage facilities around the globe. Some are digital, some are paper. Most files are indexed according to client, date, or other criteria, but in other cases, the system of indexing is unclear. A few files could date back to 1909, the year that predecessor firm Root, Clark & Bird, which later became Dewey Ballantine, was founded.

The court and the Dewey lawyers representing the estate have not yet agreed on a plan for disposing the files. It’s a daunting task for a number of reasons. Sheer volume aside, there are files that contain information such as deeds and patents that carry potential felony charges if they are destroyed. Some boxes may contain files from rival companies, so they can’t be returned to clients without first being vetted. Further muddying the waters is the lack of any established law governing how a bankrupt firm can dispose of client records.