Financial Rankings

International Edition

Global 100: top firms push revenues to new high amid merger rush

By Georgina Stanley | October 18, 2012

Consolidation in the legal market has helped the world's 100 largest law firms to cast aside the ongoing economic downturn to see combined revenues soar to a record high of $81.9bn (£50.7bn) over the last year.

1 minute read

International Edition

New world orders: the 2012 Global 100

By Georgina Stanley | October 18, 2012

At first glance the 2012 Global 100 rankings, which show revenues for the world's largest law firms rising to an all time high of $81.9bn (£50.8bn) during the last financial year, do much to prove the well-coined expression that, rain or shine, people (or at least major public companies) always need lawyers.

1 minute read

UK top 50 law firms drive profits back towards boom-time high

By Georgina Stanley | July 26, 2012

The UK's top law firms have overcome continued uncertainty in the global economy to achieve a second consecutive year of growth, while top 50 firms push partner profits back towards a boom-time high.

1 minute read

International Edition

UK top 50 law firms drive profits back towards boom-time high

By Georgina Stanley | July 26, 2012

The UK's top law firms have overcome continued uncertainty in the global economy to achieve a second consecutive year of growth, while top 50 firms push partner profits back towards a boom-time high.

1 minute read

Headcount holds level but set to fall in 2010

By Legal Week | July 29, 2009

Lawyer headcount has yet to drop across the top 50 despite a series of unprecedented job cuts as expansion at some firms offsets plunging headcount at others. Legal Week research shows there were 33,886 lawyers working in top 50 UK firms on 30 April 2009, excluding trainees and paralegals. This compares with 33,109 on the same date the previous year. Total staff numbers across the group fell by around 1,600 to 78,675.

1 minute read

International Edition

Headcount holds level but set to fall in 2010

By Legal Week | July 29, 2009

Lawyer headcount has yet to drop across the top 50 despite a series of unprecedented job cuts as expansion at some firms offsets plunging headcount at others. Legal Week research shows there were 33,886 lawyers working in top 50 UK firms on 30 April 2009, excluding trainees and paralegals. This compares with 33,109 on the same date the previous year. Total staff numbers across the group fell by around 1,600 to 78,675.

1 minute read

Magic circle trio break into profits top 10 as City firms move up Global 100

By Ben Wheway | July 10, 2008

Profits per equity partner (PEP) at top US law firms still narrowly exceed key UK rivals - despite the significant increases the magic circle have achieved in turnover and profitability in recent years. Figures compiled by Legal Week and The American Lawyer show that just three UK firms make it into the global top 10 by PEP - Slaughter and May, Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. In contrast, seven US firms make the grade - headed by elite firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz.

1 minute read

International Edition

Magic circle trio break into profits top 10 as City firms move up Global 100

By Ben Wheway | July 10, 2008

Profits per equity partner (PEP) at top US law firms still narrowly exceed key UK rivals - despite the significant increases the magic circle have achieved in turnover and profitability in recent years. Figures compiled by Legal Week and The American Lawyer show that just three UK firms make it into the global top 10 by PEP - Slaughter and May, Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. In contrast, seven US firms make the grade - headed by elite firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz.

1 minute read