New York attorney record · Judicial Dept 1
David Madison Wells
Georgetown alumna, admitted to the New York bar in 1976, registered office in New York, NY. A half-lifetime's worth of status, address, and registration history on this record come straight from the NY Office of Court Administration.
- 1976
- Admitted
- 50
- Years in bar
- 1257690
- NY reg #
The record in one line
David Madison Wells has spent 50 years on the register since admission in 1976, one of the longest-standing active practitioners the state bar carries at 96% tenure percentile.
- 50 yrs
- in active practice since admission
- Active
- current bar status: "Currently registered"
- Top 4%
- by tenure among active NY attorneys
- Law school
- Georgetown
Data updated May 2026
What this profile tells you
Bar status & tenure
David Madison Wells has carried New York bar registration 1257690 for the better part of a career, still active and in good standing. Registration is recorded within Judicial Department 1, the appellate division overseeing this attorney's home district.
Practice context & education
Practice address is listed under Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, located in New York, NY (New York County), ZIP 10017. 5 other attorneys share this firm affiliation in the registry. Educational background: GEORGETOWN (1,617 registered alumni).
State context & due diligence
Across a career spanning 50 years, David Madison Wells has remained part of the New York bar's active cohort, a share of the register detailed further below.
Experience vs. the active New York bar
David Madison Wells's 50 years since a 1976 admission places this record near the far edge of the statewide tenure curve below.
50 years on the New York bar
Years since admission, all currently-active NY attorneys
50 Top 4% higher than 96% of 284,296 active NY attorneys
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more active NY attorneys. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NY Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registration · May 2026
How David compares to fellow Georgetown alumni
Among the 931 Georgetown graduates in the New York register, David Madison Wells is longer-tenured than 99% - a school-cohort view of experience, alongside the statewide one above.
50 years vs. Georgetown alumni
Years since admission - 931 NY-registered alumni of this school
50 Top 1% higher than 99% of 931 fellow alumni
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more fellow alumni. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NY Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registration · May 2026
Georgetown's active-bar rate
Of Georgetown's 1,617 alumni in the New York register, 60.3% currently hold "Currently registered" status, below the statewide average.
Georgetown alumni, active-bar rate
The 1976 admission class today
Of the 3,226 attorneys admitted to the New York bar in 1976, 50.9% are still "Currently registered" today, below the statewide average across all admission years.
Professional Details
- Status
- Currently registered
- Registration Number
- 1257690
- Year Admitted
- 1976 (50 yrs · veteran)
- Judicial Department
- 1
- Next Registration
- Oct 2026
Location & Contact
- Company
- Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
- City
- New York, NY
- County
- New York
- ZIP Code
- 10017
- Phone
- (212) 450-4000
Education
Status Distribution Across the New York Bar
David Madison Wells's current status, "Currently registered", places this attorney in the 66.2% of the 429,620-attorney New York register currently marked active.
Full statewide breakdown & source note
Source: NY Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registrations. Status counts reflect the latest reporting cycle. Bar status confirms registration only; it does not imply competence, specialty fit, or freedom from complaints.
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David Madison Wells's "Currently registered" listing confirms bar standing only, it is a registration fact to verify, not a verdict on quality or competence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is David Wells licensed?
David Wells is licensed to practice law in New York.
When was David Madison Wells admitted to the bar?
David Madison Wells's admission to the New York bar dates back to 1976.
Where did David Madison Wells go to law school?
David Madison Wells attended GEORGETOWN.
What company does David Madison Wells work for?
David Madison Wells is associated with Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York, NY.
Is David Madison Wells in good standing?
Yes, David Madison Wells holds active bar status ("Currently registered").
Sourced from the NY Office of Court Administration, informational only, not legal advice. Full disclosure.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.