The NLJ 250, The National Law Journal's annual survey of the nation’s largest law firms, shows that Big Law continued to shed lawyers at a brisk clip in 2010. Nearly 2,900 fewer lawyers worked for the 250 top firms last year. That's in addition to the approximately 6,600 attorneys who departed in 2009. In the 34 years the NLJ has been surveying large firms to gather headcount numbers, there have never been multiyear declines of this magnitude.
Revised 2010 figures show that NLJ 250 firms employed 2,868 fewer lawyers than in 2009. Expand that view to 2008, and the headcount drain is a rounding error away from 10,000 attorneys.
THE CHARTS
THE 2011 NLJ 250
The full list of firms, broken out by headcount of total partners, nonequity partners, associates, and other attorneys.
The full list of firms, broken out by headcount of total partners, nonequity partners, associates, and other attorneys.
Download the PDF version of the NLJ 250.
Branch Offices
Domestic and international offices and headcounts.
Domestic and international offices and headcounts.
Gains & Losses
Firms with the biggest gains and steepest declines in attorney count.
Firms with the biggest gains and steepest declines in attorney count.
Largest U.S. Law Offices
Firms reported 37 U.S. offices with more than 300 lawyers.
Firms reported 37 U.S. offices with more than 300 lawyers.
A map of 21 U.S. cities with the highest number of lawyers. Plus, a global view of the NLJ 250 firms' international offices.
FIRM FOCUS
The Ohio Players
Roetzel & Andress reigns supreme in the one-time "Rubber Capital of the World." But the firm has discovered life outside Akron — and it likes it.
Roetzel & Andress reigns supreme in the one-time "Rubber Capital of the World." But the firm has discovered life outside Akron — and it likes it.
Golden State Warriors
Despite the recession and a municipal client's corruption scandal, Riverside, Calif.'s Best Best & Krieger is growing again.
Despite the recession and a municipal client's corruption scandal, Riverside, Calif.'s Best Best & Krieger is growing again.
The New Blood
Eight firms are new to the NLJ 250 this year. What factors are driving their growth?
Eight firms are new to the NLJ 250 this year. What factors are driving their growth?
GLOBAL OUTLOOK
China: The 'fastest growing legal market in the world'
China was the second most-popular foreign location for large U.S.-law firms during 2010 with 70 firms posting a total of 2,055 lawyers there.
China was the second most-popular foreign location for large U.S.-law firms during 2010 with 70 firms posting a total of 2,055 lawyers there.
Baker & McKenzie is big, but not for bigness' sake
Eduardo Leite, chairman of the Baker & McKenzie's executive committee, reflects on the advantages and disadvantages of being the largest U.S.-based firm.
Eduardo Leite, chairman of the Baker & McKenzie's executive committee, reflects on the advantages and disadvantages of being the largest U.S.-based firm.
Jones Day leads the pack in U.S.-based attorneys
With 3,738 lawyers in 60 offices, Baker & McKenzie once again topped the NLJ 250 — but the global goliath drops far down the list when only lawyers based in the United States are counted. By that metric, Jones Day is the nation's largest firm, with 1,803 attorneys based here.
With 3,738 lawyers in 60 offices, Baker & McKenzie once again topped the NLJ 250 — but the global goliath drops far down the list when only lawyers based in the United States are counted. By that metric, Jones Day is the nation's largest firm, with 1,803 attorneys based here.
METHODOLOGY
Although most of the charts are self-explanatory, we've provided some information about the process, criteria and definitions. The lawyer totals are based on the average number of full-time equivalent attorneys for the period Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2010. The NLJ sent surveys to about 300 law firms to determine the 250 largest. Lawyer counts do not include contract or temporary attorneys. A firm must have more lawyers based in the United States than in any other single country to be included on the list. Firms are ranked by the number of full-time equivalent attorneys, rather than headcount. Numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number. In case of a tie, we rank firms by the actual number of attorneys before rounding. If the tie persists, we rank firms by the total number of partners, and then the number of equity partners. The city listed next to the firm name is the firm's principal or largest office.
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