With millions of lawyers in every nation on earth, the legal profession is among the top professions. Since a law firm is where lawyers operate and put their legal and analytical talents to use in connection to the challenges of their clients, a law firm serves as both a means of support and a vehicle for getting that support.
As a result, just as doctors cannot coexist without hospitals, it is difficult for a lawyer to live without a legal company. Because of this, every lawyer aspires to own or join a prestigious law firm.
Big law firms typically have large teams of lawyers licensed to practice in multiple jurisdictions and practice areas focused on their target client focus. This can be highly helpful for affluent foreign investors and swift corporate acquisitions where a swarm of lawyers is required to do thorough due diligence and close intricate deals.
This article highlights the top best Law firms around the World.
1. Baker and McKenzie
Founded in 1949, Baker and McKenzie is a global law practice. It was the second-largest international law firm in terms of head count as of August 2018 with 13,000 employees worldwide. It is also ranked as the third largest law firm in the world in terms of revenue with US$2.89 billion
2. Jones Day
With about 2,500 attorneys on staff, this prominent law company has its headquarters in Washington, DC. You may be sure you’re in good hands if you visit them because they are a Full Service law company. The firm was founded in 1893, making it an established name.
3. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and affiliates provide legal services to clients in all major financial centers from their 23 offices spread over five continents and roughly 1,600 attorneys.
It has bagged ‘law firm of the year’ awards in both corporate and tax law categories.
4. Latham & Watkins
A 1934 founding year for the American legal firm Latham & Watkins. With US$3.064 billion in yearly revenue, it is the second-highest-grossing law firm in the world according to the most recent figures (2018), and it is regarded as one of the most prominent law firms in the world.
5. Dentos
One of the largest law companies in the world, Dentos is a worldwide law firm with a decentralized headquarters. It has over 11,000 lawyers and 189 offices working in 77 different nations.
6. Hogan Lovells
Both London, England, and Washington, DC, are home to offices for this law firm. It is a large, global company with about 2,600 general practice attorneys on staff. Based on revenue, the firm is ranked #9 among US law firms.
7. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Freshfields, often known as FBD, is regarded as having been started in 1743. It belongs to the Magic Circle, an exclusive group of British law firms, and is a renowned international law practice with its main office in London. Freshfields is the oldest firm within the Magic Circle and is reported to be the oldest international law firm in the world. It was founded in order to serve as solicitor to the Bank of England, which it continues to advise today
8. Latham & Watkins LLP
American law firm Latham & Watkins Limited Liability Partnership was established in Los Angeles, California, in 1934. With offices spread across the major financial, economic, and regulatory capitals of the world, including China, Hong Kong, Belgium, Singapore, France, Paris, Italy, and Germany, to name a few, it is today one of the largest law firms in the world.
The firm boasts of over 3,000 employees and Lawyers who provide strategic and innovative legal solutions to Client’s complex business and legal challenges. Latham remains of one of the leading firms in real estate, finance, corporate, environmental law, litigation, M & A, and Intellectual property. In this month alone April 2021, Latham and Watkins LLP has been awarded IP transaction firm of the year 2021, the number one global M & A Legal advisor of the year, amongst other numerous honours.
9. Norton, Rose, and Fulbright
With a substantial 3,339 professionals who specialize in General Practice law, this firm has its main office in London, England. Since its inception in 1794, the firm has been renowned for offering eminent clientele specialized legal services.
Allen and Overy
Allen & Overy LLP (informally A&O) is an international law firm that serves as an advisor to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments. Allen & Overy is a member of the UK’s Magic Circle of leading law firms. The firm was founded by George Allen and Thomas Overy on 1 January 1930.
10. Clifford Chance
Having its headquarters in London, the United Kingdom, Clifford Chance LLP is a global legal firm. They are a part of the prestigious group of British law firms known as the “Magic Circle.” It is among the top 10 legal companies worldwide, both in terms of the quantity of attorneys and the amount of money they make.
11. Linklaters
A member of the exclusive “magic circle,” Linklaters LLP is a global legal firm with its headquarters in London. Over 2,000 lawyers are currently employed by it in 29 locations spread across 20 nations. In the year 1838, it was established.
12. Davis Polk & WardWell LLP
International law practice Davis Polk was established in 1849. It has been consistently listed among the top law firms in the world for more than 171 years. In fields like capital markets, corporate and M&A, litigation, tax, financial services regulation, investment management, and banking, Davis Polk has deep expertise.
It is one of the best firms in banking and financial area of law, handling a sizeable number of the most complex securities litigation around the world, and being awarded with the Banking and Finance Law Firm of the year in 2019.
13. Jones Day
Located in the US, Jones Day, Reavis & Pogue was formerly known as Jones Day from 1974 to 2003. It is one of the ten biggest law firms in the world and the biggest in the United States. Jones Day is one of the most recognizable and prestigious law firms in the world, ranking first in the 2017 U.S. Law Firm Brand Index 2017.
14. Kirkland & Ellis LLP
It is a global law firm that was established in Chicago in 1909. With US$3.165 billion in sales, it is the highest-earning law firm in the entire globe. Most people consider Kirkland’s private equity, restructuring, and intellectual property practices to be among the best in the field. Kirkland is also known for its specialization in litigation practice, aimed mainly at large corporate clients that go to trial. Kirkland is the third most profitable law firm globally.
15. Sullivan & Cromwell LP (S & C)
A multinational law firm with its main office in New York was established in 1870 as Sullivan & Cromwell. Over its more than 130-year history, the company has continually guided the development of many of the world’s corporate titans while offering the best quality legal advice and representation to clients all over the world.
S & C has over 13 offices across the world, boasting of handling some of the biggest deals and litigation in the world, and raking in an annual revenue of over 1 billion dollars.
16. White and case
A global law company established in 1901, White and Case is ideally situated to assist clients everywhere in resolving their most difficult legal issues, no matter where they are.
White & Case LLP is well known for its experience in handling cross border and multi-jurisdictional cases and transactions, its track record and extensive experience in global M&A, Finance, arbitration, financial restructuring, insolvency, and importantly its summer program; as it is the number law firm In the world in summer programs, more especially it’s virtual internship for millions of Law students across the globe.
17. DLA Piper
DLA PIPER is a global law firm with locations in over 40 nations in the Americas, Asia, Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Through the merging of three law companies in 2005, Gray Cray Ware & Freidenrich LLP, Piper Rudnick LLP, and DLA LLP, DLA PIPER grew to become one of the largest firms in the world, with an astounding annual revenue of over $3 billion.
DLA piper is one of the few Law firms committed to pro bono services, with focus on the rights of children, access to justice, rule of law and assisting asylum seekers refugees and stateless people. Its commitment to rendering Legal services in the requisite field as well as pro bono services has seen DLA PIPER being named the International Law firm of the year at Russia venture capital awards for the 5th consecutive time. It has also been named the best Law firm in France, amongst others.