Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom is mourning the passing of veteran New York corporate partner Joe Flom, who died this morning at the age of 87.

Flom joined Skadden as the firm's first associate in 1948 and went on to become one of the most well-known corporate lawyers in the US during a career spanning six decades. He helped guide Skadden from a four-lawyer practice to a global law firm with 2,000 lawyers.

Flom, who was born in 1923 and raised in Brooklyn, helped pioneer the practice of hostile takeovers and worked with clients including Anheuser-Busch – which he advised in relation to its acquisition by InBev – Allied Corp, Sir James Goldsmith, Bristol-Myers, and Occidental Petroleum.

Skadden executive partner Eric Friedman said: "It is an understatement to say Joe was an individual without equal. He was a most trusted adviser, beloved and respected partner and mentor, faithful friend and formidable adversary.

"Joe led significant change in the practice of corporate law during a storied career, and he was among the first to drive M&A to the top of corporate agendas. With a steady hand and clear vision, he guided the firm's development, never wavering from his principles of unparalleled legal advice, loyalty to his colleagues and peers, and social responsibility."

Robert Sheehan, Skadden's executive partner from 1994 to 2009, added, "Joe was an original. The architect of the modern-day M&A law practice, he was the consummate deal attorney – smart, strategic, tireless. He and Skadden were at the forefront when other major law firms began to recognise that the transactional work he pioneered was indispensable to corporate clients seeking growth, diversification and new markets. Joe was simply the best of the best."

Flom was also a dedicated humanitarian, supporting education and equal opportunity in the profession. He founded the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, which awards fellowships to graduating law students and outgoing judicial clerks to support their public interest endeavours.

The story of name partner Flom's success was documented in Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers, in which Gladwell said: "For 20 years, he perfected his craft at Skadden. Then the world changed and he was ready. He didn't triumph over adversity. Instead, what started as adversity ended up being an opportunity."

Flom is survived by his wife Judi, sons Jason and Peter, and daughter Nancy Laing, as well as six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Click here for a tribute to Joe Flom from his son, and click here for a profile of Flom by American Lawyer founder Steven Brill.