The law firm changed its name with different partners until James William Freshfield (1775–1864) was elected partner.
James William Freshfield (8 April 1774 – 27 June 1864) was an English lawyer and founder of the international law firm of Freshfields.
Between 1997 and 2004, he worked for two leading international law firms, Sullivan & Cromwell, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
The new Rheinauhafen is home to numerous companies of the creative industry; among the larger companies and law firms are Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (in "KranhausPLUS"), CMS Hasche Sigle (in "Kranhaus1"), Electronic Arts (own building) and Microsoft (own building); among the cultural organisations are the Kap am Südkai, German Sport & Olympia Museum and Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum.
He is currently a partner in Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's litigation practice group in New York City, and focuses his practice on white collar defense including SEC, FINRA, regulatory enforcement proceedings, and related complex civil litigation.