The company played key roles in the development of business strategy, operations research, the word processor, the first synthetic penicillin, LexisNexis, SABRE, and NASDAQ.

[3] The partnership dissolved in 1905 when Walker dedicated all of his time to being in charge of the new Research Laboratory of Applied Chemistry at MIT.

In November 1953, ADL opened a 40-acre site for its Acorn Park labs in west Cambridge, Massachusetts, about 6 miles (10 km) from MIT.

[6] The new site took its name from the company motto - "Glandes Sparge Ut Quercus Crescant," translated as "Scatter Acorns That Oaks May Grow."

[8] As the pioneer firm in professional services, Arthur D. Little played a key role in numerous 20th-century business initiatives: In 1911 ADL organized General Motors' first R&D lab,[9] leading to the formation of the firm's dedicated management consulting division, and the birth of the management consulting industry.

However, a new management team mismanaged the company's core business and engaged in manipulation of the Memorial Drive Trust.

But the damage had been done, and combined with the impact of the dot.com bubble on technology sector activity this led Arthur D. Little to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2002.

[13] At an auction in 2002, TIAX LLC, formed by Kenan Sahin, acquired the assets, contracts, and staff of Arthur D. Little's U.S. Technology & Innovation business.

Under Altran's ownership, Arthur D. Little operated primarily as a European-centric company initially, rebuilding and strengthening its core practices in oil and gas, telecommunications, automotive, manufacturing, and chemicals.

Later ADL grew and expanded throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and continued to be recognized for its expertise in areas combining aspects of technology, innovation, and strategy.

The firm is led by the elected Global CEO, Ignacio Garcia-Alves, who was also the leader of the MBO team.

In the five years following the 2011 MBO, ADL opened new offices in Turkey, Oslo, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Singapore, Hong Kong, Beirut, Riyadh, Prague and Bahrain.

In addition, ADL recently re-established itself in the US market and has opened offices in Boston, New York, and San Francisco.