F. Daniel Frost and the Rise of the Modern American Law Firm

This biography of F. Daniel Frost whose life and work are most closely associated with the expansion of the Los Angeles law firm of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher from the 1960s through the 1980s is also a tale of the transformation of the American legal profession during that era. Macro histories offer one important window into this rich chapter of the professions history and personal narratives of the most ambitious and high-profile leaders offer still another. This book is written from Dan Frosts viewpoint as an exceptionally influential private lawyer who shaped a major California firm throughout the second half of the last century. During this dynamic time in the saga of the profession the rise of Californias law firms was a crucial component. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher today is a global entity with offices and influence in every major economic hub in the world but when Frost joined the firm it still was a small essentially regional institution. He was a witness to and became a central architect of the firms dramatic evolution thereafter. The foundations of Frosts success included his family education and public service background as well as the historical economic and geographical context in which he lived. During this time Californias major industries universities cultural centers and sheer geographic expanse and natural beauty established her as the nations other coastrivaling and in some respects defeating the venerable East Coast in influence affluence and dynamism. Frosts career holds valuable lessons for legal historians California historians and lawyers of any era. His life also offers insights for his professional and personal descendants as Frost respected and sought to preserve the firms history and became a student of western history spending many years capturing the history of his pioneer ancestors. This account is aimed at illuminating Dan Frosts role in the evolving firm and family history and will enable his professional and personal descendants to find themselves in the ongoing evolution of a pioneer law firm and a pioneer family. They may glimpse their own trajectory as they reflect on the life of this western lawyer professional leader entrepreneur and philanthropista journey that continues today.