Top 10 Largest Law Firms Globally

Dentons has evolved through a series of mergers over the last few years, with the most recent being the double merger in 2020 with Cohen & Grigsby and Bingham Greenebaum Doll. The firm proudly employs more than 11,000 attorneys across over 80 countries. With an annual revenue of $2.9 billion, Dentons ranks 4th among global law firms. As a multinational firm with a decentralized structure, Dentons operates over 189 offices in 77 countries worldwide.

Consistently ranked among the top 10 law firms, Dentons leads in terms of revenue and is recognized for its commitment to client service. The firm has won multiple accolades, including the BTI Client Service 30 award, and has been praised for its customer service innovations, such as the creation of Next Law Labs and the Next Law Global Referral Network.

Website: https://www.dentons.com/en/

Baker McKenzie is a multinational law firm based in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in corporate law. It primarily provides legal services to corporations or enterprises in areas such as M&A, restructuring, bankruptcy, general corporate disputes, intellectual property, securities, and antitrust litigation. While the firm as it exists today was founded in 1949, focusing on litigation, its origins date back to 1925 when Russell Baker established the firm Baker & Simpson after graduating from the University of Chicago Law School.

Baker McKenzie is the largest law firm in the United States in terms of attorney headcount and fourth in total revenue (2019). With approximately 4,700 lawyers across 46 countries and 77 offices globally, it is one of the most prominent firms worldwide. Notably, in 2006, the consumer giant Unilever selected Baker McKenzie to manage its entire trademark portfolio, which was the largest in the world at the time with over 160,000 registrations. In 2009, the firm successfully represented Symantec Corporation (now Norton LifeLock) in a $1 billion tax lawsuit against the IRS and currently represents Facebook in a similar case.

Website: https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, commonly known as Skadden, is a global law firm founded in 1948 by Marshall Skadden, John Slate, and Les Arps. Since its inception, it has become one of the leading law firms in the world. With its headquarters in New York, Skadden operates 20 offices worldwide and boasts a team of over 1,500 attorneys who specialize in more than 50 practice areas. The firm reported annual revenue of $2.66 billion.

Skadden remains one of the most profitable law firms globally, known for its expertise in restructuring, capital markets, tax, intellectual property, real estate, commercial law, securities, product liability, litigation, and mergers & acquisitions. In 2020, Skadden was recognized as the Law Firm of the Year in Mergers and Acquisitions, Litigation, and Securities.

Website: https://www.skadden.com/

Sidley Austin LLP, formerly known as Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, is a prominent law firm founded in 1966 and shaped by the merger of two predecessor firms in 2001. With 21 offices around the world, Sidley Austin specializes in areas such as accounting and professional responsibility, antitrust/competition, financial services and banking, capital markets, commercial disputes, consumer class actions, and corporate governance, among others.

Sidley boasts a diverse team of legal professionals from various cultural backgrounds, known for their collaborative approach and top-notch client service. The firm has earned a strong reputation for handling complex legal matters and litigation across a wide range of industries, including banking, energy, healthcare, insurance, life sciences, and technology. Sidley Austin now employs over 1,900 attorneys across more than 20 countries, generating an impressive annual revenue of $2.34 billion.

Website: https://www.sidley.com/en/global/

Morgan Lewis is renowned for its exceptional client service, legal innovation, and strong community engagement. With a global reach spanning North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, the firm boasts a team of over 2,200 lawyers and professionals, offering top-tier legal services to multinational corporations and startups worldwide. The firm's attorneys are skilled in navigating antitrust regulators and courts globally, providing valuable insight into handling complex business transactions and corporate litigation.

Morgan Lewis, founded in 1873, currently has a team of 2,200 lawyers and reported revenues of $2.45 billion, placing it eighth among global firms. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the firm operates 30 offices worldwide. The firm specializes in corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, fund formation, finance, restructuring, securities, business law, emerging technology, software outsourcing, energy transactions, and tax law.

Website: https://www.morganlewis.com/

White & Case is a renowned international law firm founded in 1901, with a singular mission to assist clients across the globe in navigating their most complex legal challenges, no matter where they are. Headquartered in Tampa, the firm employs over 2,200 lawyers in 47 offices worldwide. In 2020, White & Case reported revenues of $2.39 billion, ranking ninth in global revenue.

White & Case LLP is well-regarded for its expertise in handling cross-border and multi-jurisdictional cases and transactions. The firm has a strong track record in global M&A, finance, arbitration, financial restructuring, bankruptcy, and notably, its summer internship programs. It is considered the top global law firm for summer programs, including virtual internships for law students worldwide.

Website: https://www.whitecase.com/

Clifford Chance is the largest law firm in Europe and the UK by revenue, and a key member of the prestigious "Magic Circle" — an informal group of the largest and most profitable UK-based law firms. Other members include Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May.

The firm known today as Clifford Chance was formed through several mergers. The first major merger took place in 1987, between two mid-sized London firms, Clifford Turner and Coward Chance, which played a crucial role in establishing the firm as a legal powerhouse in the UK. Later, in 1999, to expand internationally, Clifford Chance acquired the US-based firm Roger & Wells and the German firm Pünder, Volhard, Weber & Axster. Today, the firm operates in over 30 locations worldwide and has a strong presence in East Asia with offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing.

Website: https://www.cliffordchance.com/home.html

Kirkland & Ellis is one of the most successful law firms globally, with over a century of legal experience. The firm boasts a team of over 2,900 attorneys across more than 15 offices worldwide and is recognized as the top law firm in terms of revenue generated in recent years.

Kirkland & Ellis specializes in private equity, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), complex corporate transactions, litigation, dispute resolution, arbitration, intellectual property, and restructuring. The firm excels in providing strategic business counsel and crisis management, helping clients navigate through financially challenging situations. Among their prestigious clients are Nike, Boeing, Facebook, KKR, Intel, Oaktree Capital, Blackstone Group, and IBM, to name a few.

Website: https://www.kirkland.com/

Latham & Watkins LLP is a prominent U.S.-based law firm, founded in 1934 in Los Angeles, California. Today, it stands as one of the largest and most respected law firms worldwide, with offices located in major financial, business, and legal centers across the globe, including China, Hong Kong, Belgium, Singapore, France, Paris, Italy, and Germany.

The firm takes pride in its team of over 3,000 professionals and attorneys who provide innovative and strategic legal solutions for clients facing complex legal and business challenges. Latham remains a leader in fields such as real estate, finance, corporate law, environmental law, litigation, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and intellectual property. Notably, in April 2021, Latham & Watkins LLP was named Global M&A Legal Advisor of the Year and received several other prestigious awards, including IP Transaction Firm of the Year.

Website: https://www.lw.com/

DLA Piper is a multinational law firm with offices in over 40 countries across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. As one of the largest law firms globally, DLA Piper employs nearly 4,000 attorneys in diverse practice areas such as education, government contracts, insurance, and technology. The firm reached its current size through a 2005 merger of three law firms: Grey Clay Ware & Friedrich LLP, Piper Rudnick LLP, and DLA LLP, and now generates annual revenues surpassing $3 billion.

DLA Piper is one of the few law firms dedicated to advancing professional services in areas like children's rights, access to justice, the rule of law, and support for refugees and stateless individuals. Its commitment to essential legal services and professional support has earned DLA Piper the title of International Law Firm of the Year at the Russian Venture Investment Awards for five consecutive years. The firm has also been recognized as the best law firm in France, among other accolades.

Website: https://www.dlapiper.com/en-us