largest law firms

Largest Law Firms in America Making the Bucks!

7 Mins Read October, 10 2021 Posted by Ankita Tripathy

Have you ever pondered what it really takes to be the largest law firms in the world? I mean, it is the experience? Is it the number if lawyers and offices that the law firm has? Or is it the money that they are making?

Well, in most cases, the success of a law firm is what makes it popular and helps it grow. And I think one of the major ways in which success can be measured is through the revenue of a company.

After all, even if they are law firms, they are ultimately doing business, right?

And in this article, I will be talking about who the largest law firms in the world are. So, keep reading this blog till the end…

The Largest Law Firms in the United States Right Now

The Largest Law Firms in the United States Right Now

We all know that law is a big industry. This means there will be some law firms in this field who are like the big scorers. In ther words, they are like the giants.

And this is not only because of the cases they have won, the number of offices that they have, or the lawyers practicing under them. Some of the times, it is also because of the revenue that they make at the end of the year.

For instance, in the United States alone, there are more than 1.3 million lawyers. And at the same time, you will also get over 200 law firms that have more than 500 attorneys working under them.

Irrespective of exactly what kind of lawyer you are looking for, they will be ready to take your case (which can range from divorce to property, and even copyrights and/or finance.

But who are the largest law firms in the world? Check out this list to know it all:

1. Kirkland & Ellis 

First, we have Kirkland & Ellis. It is the largest firm by revenue in the United States of America. It is seventh in terms of the number of attorneys.

The firm has been around for about 112 years since its founding in 1909. Since then, it has developed 9 major offices in the United States. 

Over time, the company has attracted a large number of high-profile and controversial customers, including Brett Kavanaugh and Jeffery Epstein.

This law firm’s major focus is commercial litigation, but its experts also focus on other corporate areas of interest. 

2. Latham Watkins 

The law firm was founded in 1934, which is almost 100 years ago. It is an international law firm that is among the longest lasting.

The company has more than 2700 lawyers across Europe, the United States, and Asia, and the Middle East. 

The company has a notable prestige that garners a very high-paying clientele. The legal firm is well-rounded and has the capacity to handle a plethora of cases.

Furthermore, this company also tends to have a very high interest in political affairs. Also, did you know that they donated 1.8 million dollars in 2016 to the democratic candidates?

3. DLA Piper 

Third on this list is the This company comes in as the second-largest law firm in America. The company has its headquarters in the city of New York.

It also has offices in 40 countries, including Europe andthe  Asian Pacific. The company came up in 2005 as a merger between DLS, Piper Rudnick, and Freidenrich.

Originally, DLA was based in the United Kingdom, which makes DLA Piper to be classified technically as a multinational company. 

4. White Case

This firm was founded in 1901 and it is an international law firm that is based in the city of New York.

It has 44 offices in 30 different countries including Asia and Latin America. It is a general practice law firm that specializes in white-collar legal issues. 

5. Baker McKenzie 

Next on the list we have Baker McKenzie. This company holds the position of the largest law firm in the United States.

The headquarters of this popular law firm is in Chicago and it is a general practice law firm. Additionally, the company has 77 offices in 46 different counties of America. 

Globally, McKenzie has over 6000 lawyers of which 4720 are located domestically.  It is a general practice and not a specialization law firm.

However, most of the cases that this law firm handles revolve generally around corporate law. 

6. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

Most popularly known as Skadden, this law firm has been around since 1948 with its headquarter in New York.

According to its annual revenue reports, Skadden made over $3.5 billions recently and has office across the world.

Some of its area of expertise and specialization includes finance and business. Additionally, it also works as an advisor for government agencies.

7. Dentons

With revenues more than $3 billion in December, Dentons is in the next one on the list of the largest law firms in the world.

And believe it or not, sometimes it is also called the largest global law firm with more than 160 offices in the entire world.

Some of the practice areas or the areas of specializations, when it comes to Dentons are banking and finance, arbitration, and capital markets.

8. Sidley Austin

Next on this list of the largest law firms in the United States is the very popular Sidley Austin. Also famous for being the place where the Obama couple met for the first time, thusi law firm was founded in 1866.

In the year 2023, the revenue of this law firm was more than $3 billion. Additionally, over 2100 attorneys work under Sidley Austin that has over 20 offices around the world.

Some of the most important legal niches that it specializes in are corporate finance, government affairs, and employment law.

9. Morgan, Lewis Bockius 

Founded in 1873, Morgan, Bockius has been around for more than 150 years and remains to be among the top law firms that are based in the United States.

It is among the few law firms in the region that have a woman as the chair. It has 31 offices in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.

Additionally, it has served so many controversial customers over time from Al Gore to Donald Trump. You make the largest law firms with the best qualities of a lawyer

10. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Next on the list of the largest law firms in the world by revenues is Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. This American firm was founded in the 1980s and has its headquarters in LA.

With more than 1900 lawyers practicing under this firm, on an average their annual revenue is about $3 billion.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher are primarily popular for their litigation in appellate law. Some of their practice areas are healthcare, transport, private equity, and financial institutions.

11. Ropes & Gray

Founded in the year 1865, Ropes and Gray is a law firm that came into being because of two Harvard Law School graduates. With around 14 offices and more than 1300 lawyers practicing under this, it is one of the largest law firms in the world.

Their annual revenue is about $3 billion, which definitely helps it make it to the list. Apart from that, some of their major practice areas are M&A, health care & life sciences, and private equity.

12. A&O Shearman

One of the oldest in the list of the largest law firms in the world is the UK-based law firm A&O Shearman. This law firm resulted from the merger between Allen & Overy (one of the magic circle law firms) and Shearman & Sterling.

Due to the merger, the compiled revenue of the firm is now at $3.4 billion. Additionally, it has more than 4000 lawyers practicing under it in over 45 offices.

13. Clifford Chance

Another one from the magic circle law firms, Clifford Chance LLP is the net on the list of being the largest law firms in the world. This UK-based law firm has been around for more than two hundred years.

With more than 3500 lawyers and 34 offices around the world, this law firm makes an annual revenue of about $2,9 billion.

Additionally, some of their practice areas are banking and finance, real estate, corporate and M&A, and litigation.

14. Jones Day

Jones Day appears to be the oldest law firm on this list. It was founded way back in 1893, which is close to 130 years. It is a renowned corporate supporter law firm because it represents more than 50 percent of the Fortune 500 corporations. 

The does not tend to shy away from its political leanings. It donated 78.8 percent of its 2.83 million dollars towards Donald Trump and the other Republicans in 2016. 

In 2020, Jones Day served as the outside counsel for Donald Trump as he challenged the 2020 presidential election results. These experts focus their legal efforts primarily on corporate issues and corporate management. 

15. Hogan Lovells

Finally, there’s Hogan Lovells. This is among the newest firms on the list of the largest law firms in America. It was formed in 2012 as a merger between the UK-based Lovells and the US-based Hartson. 

The law firm technically has two headquarters, one in London and the other one in Washington DC.

It also has about 40 other offices in the Middle East, United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and even Africa. It is a general practice law firm and it specializes in corporate clients. 

Your Exclusive Rights to Select Your Law Firm

In case you did niot know about this, everyone has the right to make informed decisions when they are selecting a law firm for their case. Addition, they also have the right to select their own law firm.

Additionally, you also have the exclusive right to have competent representation in the court and the right to confidentiality.

Now, while the first one that I have mentioned is rather easy to understand, let me explain the second one a little.

According to the Right to Confidentiality, all forms of conversations and communications that take place between you and your lawyer/law firm are protected by the legal privilege. In other words, your lawyer cannot disclose them without your consent.

Apart from these two, you also have the right to be informed about the progress of our case. Yes, it is the legal duty of your lawyer to inform you about everything, every little detail of your case.

So, when you are selecting the law firm to represent your case, it is important that you keep your rights intact.

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Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.

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