Survey & Rankings-
April 20, 2021 | news
Against All Odds, The Am Law 100 Were Stunningly Successful in 2020
By Dan Packel
Against a backdrop of economic anxiety and uncertainty, the country's largest firms set records for the post-Great Recession era.
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April 20, 2021 | news
The 2021 Am Law 100: Ranked by Gross Revenue
By ALM Staff
For the fourth year in a row, Kirkland & Ellis holds the top spot in the revenue rankings, with $4.8 billion.
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April 20, 2021 | news
Latham's Second Chance: A New Crisis Let the Firm Rewrite Its Infamous Response to the Last One
In 2009, Latham & Watkins laid off 12% of associates and 250 staff members in response to the global financial crisis. In 2020, it avoided cuts—and had one of the best years in Big Law.
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April 20, 2021 | news
The Much-Maligned Nonequity Tier Keeps Growing. Is That Such a Bad Thing?
Experts and observers have long raised red flags about a growing, and perhaps bloated, nonequity tier. But as firms notch record success in the pandemic and the nonequity tier keeps growing, have those fears been overblown?
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April 20, 2021 | news
The 2021 Am Law 100: Ranked by Revenue Per Lawyer
By ALM Staff
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz grew nearly 10% and remains well ahead of the rest of the competition.
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April 20, 2021 | news
With Millions in Real Estate Savings on the Table, the Am Law 100 Are Ready to Slim Down
Eyeing millions in savings, many firms are ready to reduce their post-pandemic footprint. Elites may keep it as a differentiator. Everything is on the table.
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April 20, 2021 | news
The 2021 Am Law 100: Ranked by Profits Per Equity Partner
By ALM Staff
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz holds onto the top spot in the PEP rankings, but is now joined by two other firms north of $6 million.
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April 20, 2021 | news
Resilient Firms Outperformed After 2008. Their Success Offers a Roadmap for 2021.
By Jae Um
A dozen years of data since the Great Recession shows resilient law firms rose above the competition over the past decade. In the fraught present moment, history holds lessons for the latest competitive reset.
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April 20, 2021 | news
Position Isn't Destiny: Big Law's Rising Stars Show Growth Can Come From Anywhere
By Jae Um
An analysis of 12 years of data since the Great Recessions reveals that outperforming firms can emerge from any region of the country—and any region of the rankings.
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April 20, 2021 | news
The 2021 Am Law 100: At a Glance
By ALM Staff
Financial information about the entire Am Law 100, from A to Z.
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April 20, 2021 | news
The Super (Conflicted) Rich: For the Industry's Elite, a Wildly Successful Year Came at a Cost
By Ben Seal
For some leaders on this year's Super Rich list, it's difficult to talk about their firm's success without considering the disparities the past year has exposed.
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April 20, 2021 | news
The 2021 Am Law 100: By the Numbers
By Roberto Jimenez
A closer look at the numbers that mattered most for the Am Law 100—in visual form.
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April 20, 2021 | news
Partners in Charge: How Clients' Need for Expert Counsel Fueled an RPL Spike
Revenue per lawyer set post-Great Recession records as pricey partners fielded clients' urgent questions. If firms want to build on that growth instead of losing ground, discipline is key.
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April 20, 2021 | news
The 2021 Am Law 100: Ranked by Compensation—All Partners
By ALM Staff
Single-tier firms sit atop the list, paced by Wachtell at $7.5 million.
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April 20, 2021 | news
Profits Surged at Am Law 100 Firms in 2020. Can They Keep It Up in 2021?
In 2020, 92 of the Am Law 100 improved profits per equity partner. A repeat performance could be difficult to pull off.
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April 20, 2021 | news
The 2021 Am Law 100: Ranked by Profits Per Lawyer
By ALM Staff
With more than twice its nearest competitor, Wachtell leads the list.
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April 20, 2021 | news
The Am Law 100's Top Performers Have Been Driving Demand for Years
As The American Lawyer editor in chief Gina Passarella writes, the foundation for success in 2020 was laid over the past decade.
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April 20, 2021 | news
The Am Law 100 Methodology: How We Make the List
By Ben Seal
From equity partners to profits per lawyer, this is how we define every element of our law firm financial reporting—and how we do it.
