28 May
What is the Current State of the Top 10 Largest Law Firms in the World
The top 10 largest law firms in the world are contributing to a fast-growing global legal services industry in 2020. How big is the legal services industry? The global legal services industry is projected to reach USD 1,045.24 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% during that forecast period. Legal services include business, finance, taxation, litigation, corporate affairs, conflicts, patents, copyrights, antitrust, property, labor, arbitration, administration, political, and social matters. There are many ways to rank law firms, but this is BizVibe’s list of the top 10 largest law firms in the world ranked by revenue in USD.
This fact sheet is to assist readers that are interested in gaining insights into the global legal services industry including:
- Discover what are the largest law firms in the world by revenue?
- Discover the top law firms in the world by headcount.
- Legal services industry statistics and trends you should know in 2020.
- How to connect with the largest law firms in the world on BizVibe.
BizVibe is already helping the biggest law firms in the world connect with global clients. Connect and track the latest news and insights from these companies.
Global Legal Services Industry Overview
Law is commonly understood as a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate conduct. The global legal services market size was valued at USD 794.50 billion in 2018 and is expected to register a CAGR exceeding 4.1% from 2019 to 2025. In 2020, Kirkland & Ellis was the largest law firm in the world by revenue with revenues exceeding USD 4.15 billion. Dentons is the largest law firm in the world by headcount with over 10,000 attorneys practicing law at its firm. Economic growth has been the leading factor driving growth in the industry.
Top Legal Services Industry Statistics and Trends Driving Growth
- The U.S. legal services industry totaled USD 66 billion in 2019.
- By 2021, the global legal services industry is expected to surpass the USD trillion mark.
- The USA accounts for almost half of the global legal services market.
- Economic growth and an increase in the size of the educated middle classes presents new opportunities for legal services firms looking for growth.
- The top opportunities in the legal services market will come from the B2B legal services segment which will gain USD 117.2 billion of global annual sales by 2023, and in the USA, the market will gain the most at USD 48 billion.
Ranking the Top 10 Largest Law Firms in the World by Revenue in 2020
The top 10 largest law firms in the world have been dominating the market for generations and are expected to keep growing as economies prosper. The following companies are stapled names in the legal field and have paved the way for the industry. This is BizVibe’s list of the top law firms in the world today ranked by revenue in USD billions.
1. Kirkland & Ellis
What is the largest law firm in the world by revenue? Ranking number one on this list of top 10 largest law firms in the world by revenue in 2020 is Kirkland & Ellis, an American law firm. The company was founded in 1909 in Chicago, Illinois. Generating USD 4.15 billion in revenue in 2019, Kirkland & Ellis is the largest in revenues generated among the top law firms in the world on this list. Kirkland & Ellis has clients across the corporate, taxation, litigation, intellectual property, and restructuring fields. Kirkland & Ellis as over 2,000 lawyers and the revenue generated per lawyer is USD 2,075,000 million — the highest rate on this list of biggest law firms in the world.
Kirkland & Ellis has many high profile clients including BP, General Motors, and Nike. Famous attorneys at the law firm include Neil Eggleston – former White House Counsel under President Barack Obama; Brett Kavanaugh – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; Alex Azar – Secretary of Health and Human Services; and Ken Starr – Whitewater special prosecutor and former Solicitor General under President George H. W. Bush. Kirkland & Ellis is the largest law firms in the US.
- Founded: 1909
- Kirkland & Ellis Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Kirkland & Ellis Total Revenue: USD 4.15 billion
- Kirkland & Ellis Number of Lawyers: 2,000
- Law Firm Type: Limited liability partnership
Notable Kirkland & Ellis Clients
- BP
- Volkswagen
- General Motors
- Nike
- Abbvie Inc.,
- Medtronic
- Toys R Us
Notable Kirkland & Ellis Attorneys
- Brett Kavanaugh
- Neil Eggleston
- Dan Bress
- Nathan Sales
- Jay Lefkowitz
- Mark Filip
2. Latham & Watkins
Latham & Walkins ranks 2nd on our list of the top 10 largest law firms in the world by revenue, with revenues generated of USD 3.4 billion in 2019. Latham & Watkins LLP is an international law firm founded in 1934, and currently employs over 2,700 attorneys in the USA, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Latham & Walkins is a truly global law firm known for notable attorneys such as Bruce Babbitt —Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Bill Clinton and former governor of Arizona, and Gregory G. Garre – Former Solicitor General of the United States.
Latham & Watkins LLP has offices in over 14 countries and is known for a variety of legal services including activism, political contributions, entertainment, media, real estate, and white-collar defense. Latham & Wilkins specializes in legal services for various industries including Aerospace, Defense & Government Services, Automotive, Cleantech, Fintech, Oil & Gas, and Life Sciences.
- Founded: 1934
- Latham & Watkins Headquarters: None
- Latham & Watkins Total Revenue: USD 3.4 billion
- Latham & Watkins Number of Lawyers: 2,700
- Type: Full legal services
Notable Latham & Watkins Attorneys
- Bruce Babbitt – Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Bill Clinton and former governor of Arizona.
- Sean Berkowitz – Federal prosecutor in the trials of Enron executives.
- Charles Courtenay
- Alice S. Fisher
- John Kirby
- Gregory G. Garre – Former Solicitor General of the United States.
- Maureen Mahoney
- Philip Perry – Former associate attorney general, former general counsel of the Office of Management and Budget, and former general counsel of Department of Homeland Security.
- Kathryn Ruemmler – Former White House Co
3. Baker McKenzie
Ranking 3rd on this law firm rankings list by revenue in 2020 is Baker McKenzie, an international law firm headquartered in Chicago and with 7 offices in 46 countries and over 4,600 lawyers worldwide. With revenues generated of USD 2.92 billion last year, Baker McKenzie is one of the largest law firms in the world by revenue and headcount. The law firm is primarily known for its critical acclaim with mergers and acquisitions and considered one of the best law firms in the world in that regard. Baker McKenzie also ranks 3rd among the largest law firms in the US.
- Founded: 1949
- Baker Mckenzie Headquarters: Chicago
- Baker Mckenzie Total Revenue: USD 2.92 billion
- Baker Mckenzie Number of Lawyers: 4,723
- Type: Corporate law
Baker Mckenzie Main Practice Areas
- Antitrust & Competition, Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Compliance & Investigations, Data & Technology, Dispute Resolution, Employment & Compensation, Environment & Climate Change, Intellectual Property, International Commercial & Trade, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Projects, Real Estate, Restructuring & Insolvency, and Tax.
4. DLA Piper
DLA Piper ranks 4th on our list of the top 10 largest law firms in the world by revenue in 2020 with revenues generated of USD 2.48 billion last year. DLA Piper is a multinational law firm with offices in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. As a multinational law firm, the company’s primary headquarters are in London and Chicago and the firm currently employs over 3,600 lawyers in terms of headcount. DLA Piper’s main practice areas are in education, government contracting, insurance, and technology sectors. The parent company was founded in 1764, but the current organization dates back to 2005 with the merger between three law firms: San Diego-based Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP, Baltimore-based Piper Rudnick LLP, and United Kingdom-based DLA LLP.
- Founded: 2005
- DLA Piper Headquarters: London and Chicago
- DLA Piper Total Revenue: USD 2.48 billion
- DLA Piper Number of Lawyers: 3,609
- Law Firm Type: Swiss Verein (2 LLPs)
Notable DLA Piper Attorneys
- Dick Armey, former U.S. Representative.
- Rudi M. Brewster, a former judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.
- Peter Bynoe, attorney, and businessman.
- Tom Daschle, US Senate Majority Leader.
- Steven J. Davis, earth system scientist at the University of California, Irvine
- Jared Genser, international human rights attorney
- Krongard
- Jonathan Lisle
- Harry Cummings McPherson, Jr
- Paul Victor Niemeyer
- Thomas C. Wheeler
- Mel Martinez
5. Skadden
Coming in 5th on this ranking of top 10 largest law firms in the world is Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates, a leading international law firm based in New York City. Skadden brought in annual revenues last year of USD 2.41 billion, making it the 5th on the list of largest law firms by revenue in 2020. Skadden currently has 1,784 attorneys across its 22 offices worldwide. Skadden is a limited liability partnership notable for its main practice areas such as transactions, litigation/controversy, and regulatory legal services.
- Founded: 1948
- Skadden Headquarters: New York City, USA
- Skadden Total Revenue: USD 2.41 billion
- Skadden Number of Lawyers: 1,784
- Law Firm Type: Limited liability partnership
Notable Skadden Attorneys
- Amelia Boone, obstacle racer, 2012 Spartan Race World Champion, and three-time Tough Mudder champion.
- Bruce M. Buck, chairman of Chelsea Football Club.
- Gregory B. Craig, former White House counsel to President Barack Obama.
- George B. Daniels, judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (2000–).
- Robert Del Tufo, former New Jersey Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
- John Feerick, former dean of Fordham University School of Law.
6. Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance ranks 6th on this list of the top 10 law firms in the world ranked by revenue. Clifford Chance is a multinational law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom, widely known to be a member of the “Magic Circle’. With revenues of USD 2.07 billion and over 3,300 lawyers in practice at the firm, Clifford Chance is one of the top 10 largest law firms in the world by revenue and headcount in 2020.
- Founded: 1987
- Clifford Chance Headquarters: London, UK
- Clifford Chance Total Revenue: USD 2.07 billion
- Clifford Chance Number of Lawyers: 3,300
- Law Firm Type: Limited liability partnership
Clifford Chance Areas of Practice
- Banking and finance
- Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A
- Litigation & dispute resolution
- Real estate
- Tax, pensions, and employment
7. Sidley Austin
Ranking 7th on this list of the top law firms in the world by revenue is Sidley Austin, a general practice law firm based in the United States, with a focus on expertise in transactional and litigation matters. In 2019, Sidley Austin brought in annual revenues of USD 2.04 billion in 2020 and has 2,000 lawyers practicing at its firm, making the company one of the biggest law firms in the world by revenue and headcount in 2020. Sidley Austin’s headquarters are in headquarters is at One South Dearborn in Chicago’s Loop and the company has gone through many changes during its lifetime.
- Founded: 1886
- Sidley Austin Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois
- Sidley Austin Total Revenue: USD 2.04 billion
- Sidley Austin Number of Lawyers: 2,000
- Law Firm Type: Limited liability partnership
8. Hogan Lovells
Hogan Lovells is an American-British law firm co-headquartered in London and Washington, D.C., and ranks 8th on this list of the top 10 largest law firms in the world by revenue in 2020. The company was formed by a merger of the American law firm of Hogan & Hartson and the British law firm Lovells. The company employs 2,800 lawyers working in more than 40 offices in the United States, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
- Founded: 2010
- Hogan Lovells Headquarters: London, UK & Washington, D.C., USA
- Hogan Lovells Total Revenue: USD 2.03 billion
- Hogan Lovells Number of Lawyers: 2,800
- Law Firm Type: Limited liability partnership
9. Dentons
Ranking 9th on this list of the top 10 largest law firms in the world by revenue is Dentons, a multinational law firm notable for having the highest headcount of lawyers in the world. Dentons operates in 75 countries, has 183 offices, and employs 10,000+ lawyers.
- Founded: 2013
- Dentons Headquarters: Decentralized
- Dentons Total Revenue: USD 2.03 billion
- Dentons Number of Lawyers: 10,000
- Law Firm Type: Swiss Verein
10. Allen & Overy
Rounding out BizVibe’s list of the largest law firms in the world by revenue in 2020 is Allen & Overy, an international law firm, and a member of the UK’s Magic Circle of leading law firms. Allen & Overy is notable for advising on more transactional deals than any other law firm in the world and was on the only firms to surpass the USD 1 trillion mark in terms of deal value. As of 2020, Allen & Overy is the 10th largest law firm in the world.
- Founded: 1930
- Allen & Overy Headquarters: London, UK
- Allen & Overy Total Revenue: USD 2.01 billion
- Allen & Overy Number of Lawyers: 5,500
- Law Firm Type: Limited liability partnership
Notable Allen & Overy Attorneys
- Marike Paulsson – the Director of the University of Miami’s School of Law International Arbitration Institute.
- Steven Schuit – a Dutch law professor, Nyenrode Business University.
- John Dewar – a UK law professor and the Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe University.
This is BizVibe’s list of the top 10 largest law firms in the world by revenue in 2020 ranked by revenue and notoriety in the global legal services industry. The top law firms in the world have paved the way for increased transaction deals, excellent legal services, and the international practice of law.
Top Law Firms in the World by Revenue in 2020
Here is a complete list of the top 20 largest law firms in the world ranked by revenue.
Rank | Law Firm | Revenue (USD billions) | Lawyers | Country |
| 1 | Kirkland & Ellis | 4.15 | 2,000 | USA |
| 2 | Latham & Watkins | 3.4 | 2,700 | USA |
| 3 | Baker McKenzie | 2.92 | 4,723 | USA |
| 4 | DLA Piper | 2.48 | 3,609 | USA & UK |
| 5 | Skadden | 2.41 | 1,784 | USA |
| 6 | Clifford Chance | 2.07 | 3,300 | UK |
| 7 | Sidley Austin | 2.04 | 2,000 | USA |
| 8 | Hogan Lovells | 2.03 | 2,800 | USA & UK |
| 9 | Dentons | 2.03 | 10,000 | USA, UK, China, UK |
| 10 | Allen & Overy | 2.01 | 5,500 | UK |
| 11 | Morgan, Lewis & Bockius | 2.01 | 1,943 | USA |
| 12 | Linklaters | 1.96 | 2,305 | UK |
| 13 | Jones Day | 1.95 | 2,513 | USA |
| 14 | Norton Rose Fulbright (verein) | 1.95 | 3,339 | USA & UK |
| 15 | Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 1.81 | 1,955 | UK |
| 16 | White & Case | 1.8 | 2,039 | USA |
| 17 | Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher | 1.64 | 1,275 | USA |
| 18 | Ropes & Gray | 1.59 | 1,162 | USA |
| 19 | Greenberg Traurig | 1.47 | 1,944 | USA |
| 20 | CMS (EEIG) | 1.46 | 3,558 | UK |
- Kirkland & Ellis is the largest law firm in the world by revenue in 2020 exceeding USD 4.15 billion.
- Dentons is the largest law firm in the world by headcount with over 10,000 lawyers at its practice.
The Future of the Top Law Firms in the World
As economies prospering continues to be the biggest factor driving growth in the global legal services industry expect the top 10 largest law firms in the world to continue innovating and pushing the envelope in legal services. Whether the practice of law is at a business or personal level, transactional deals are growing year-over-year and the top law firms are growing at stellar rates in 2020 and beyond.
