AAA US Firm Basic Info All Firms Flashcards
What do you know about all US firms in London?
American and transatlantic firms in the UK
With many of the ‘US firms’ in London offering training contracts, students looking for a City firm with a transatlantic twist have plenty of choice. There are roughly 100 US and transatlantic firms with a presence in the UK. Around half offer training contracts – they offer about 650 between them. The table below can be used as a starting point for finding out more about firms that operate in the UK market, having originated in the States.
By looking at Chambers UK, Chambers USA, Chambers Europe, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Chambers Latin America and Chambers Global you can track each firm’s performance across the various countries in which it works. Our sister publication Chambers Associate gives detailed analysis of firms’ reputations in the US recruitment market.
This table is split into two sections. The first part lists US firms that have opened up an office London and grown it from scratch, while the second part lists US firms that have entered the UK market via a merger with an established British firm. There are significant differences between the two types, which we detail below. Bear in mind that certain firms in the second category had their own office in London prior to merger (sometimes well established).
Want to know what it’s like to work at a US firm in London? Read our new feature
Working at an American law firm in London.
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New office openings by US firms in 2016/17 included Florida firm Holland & Knight, which set up a small London outpost focused on aviation finance. Another transatlantic firm was born on 1 February 2017 when national firm Eversheds merged with US outfit Sutherland. In addition, international firm CMS is reportedly in merger talks with US firm Hunton & Williams. Meanwhile, US firm Winston & Strawn confirmed that it is recruiting two trainees this year, and Fried Frank has begun recruiting trainees for the first time.
Remember, while many of the firms below happily embrace the term ‘US firm’, others do not describe themselves as such, preferring the term ‘international firm’. You’ll get a sense of what to call them from the terminology used on their websites or from the True Picture.
Firms in the table below which feature in the True Picture have their name highlighted in red. Click the link to find out more. If the firm features in Chambers Associate, you can click the link “Read about the firm in the US” to find out about its activities stateside.
The following information was verified in January 2017.
Part 1: US firms in London
These are firms with American origins that have opened up a brand new office in London, usually with the hire of just one or two partners at first, and grown it from scratch. Some (like White & Case or Baker & McKenzie) have been here for many years and are large and significant operations in their own right. Others (like McDermott Will & Emery or Vinson & Elkins) have chosen to remain small boutique operations, while yet more (like Locke Lord or Holland & Knight) only arrived on the scene recently.
Pros: Often smaller and more intimate; salaries tend to be higher to match New York market; no merger-related culture clashes.
Cons: The firm needs to break into the UK market and find a place in it, and it can take ages to build up the office (assuming management in the US even has the desire to do that).
History in the the UKWorldwide profile
(office locations)Size in UKMain UK activitiesTraining contracts?
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & FeldLondon office of US firm. Opened 1997. Hired 44 lawyers from Bingham McCutchen in 2014.925 lawyers in this Texas-founded but Washington DC-headquartered firm. 10 US offices plus 10 outside the US.91 lawyers, mostly UK-qualified.Chambers UK-ranked for banking & finance, construction, energy and very finance-related areas. Ex-Bingham lawyers are chiefly finance/restructuring specialists.Yes (up to 4 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Andrews KurthLondon office of US firm. Opened 1995.Texas-headquartered with four offices in that state plus offices in
New York, DC, North Carolina, Beijing, Dubai and London. Around 400 lawyers.Six lawyers in 2017.Chiefly litigation and arbitration related to engineering, energy and construction.No
Arnold & Porter Kaye ScholerArnold & Porter’s UK office opened in 1997. Merged with US firm Kaye Scholer in January 2017 which had a smaller London office since 2001.Washington DC firm with 1,000 lawyers practising across six other US offices plus London and
Brussels outposts.62 lawyers, mostly
UK-qualified.Focus on IP, life sciences and tech deals, alongside arbitration, telecoms, competition and corporate. Kaye Scholer mostly did private-equity M&A and insolvency.Yes (2 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Baker McKenzieLondon office of
multinational firm. Opened 1961.Headquartered in Chicago, but a massive global presence with 4,000+ lawyers across 77 worldwide offices.360 UK-qualified lawyers.Full service.Yes (30 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Baker BottsLondon office of US firm. Opened 1998.Texas firm with six US offices plus others in London, Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Brussels, Dubai, Hong Kong, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro and Riyadh. Around 725 lawyers worldwide.34 lawyers, both UK
and internationally qualified.Energy specialists with growing dispute resolution abilities.NoRead about the firm in the US
Boies, Schiller & FlexnerLondon office of US firm. Opened 2013.New York firm founded by high-profile litigator David Boies. More than 300 lawyers across 12 US offices plus a base in London.18 mostly UK-qualified lawyers.Finance-related disputes.No
BracewellLondon office of US firm. Opened 1995.
Texas firm with 470 lawyers in eight US offices plus Dubai and London.
17 lawyers, almost all UK-qualifiedFocuses on energy sector – upstream finance, project development and finance and energy M&A.NoRead about the firm in the US
Brown RudnickLondon office of US firm. Opened 1997.Smaller Boston-based firm with 240 lawyers scattered across six
US offices, London, Dublin and Paris.54 lawyers, both UK- and US-qualified.Full service with notable private equity, financial regulation and fraud practices.Yes (3 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Bryan CaveLondon office of US firm. Opened 1982.1,000 lawyers in 27 offices across the US, Europe and Asia.36 mixed UK and US-qualified lawyers.Full service with highly developed private client practice. The two core seats for trainees are corporate/commercial and litigation.Yes (2 pa)
BuckleySandlerLondon office of US firm. Opened 2014.Washington DC firm with 160 lawyers. Offices in Washington,
New York, LA, Chicago & London.One US-qualified lawyer.White-collar crime and financial services litigation.No
Butler SnowLondon office of US firm. Opened 2013.Mississippi-headquartered firm with a further 25 US locations in addition to London.Four US-qualified lawyers.Focused on tax.No
Cadwalader, Wickersham & TaftLondon office of US firm. Opened 1997.Wall Street firm founded in 1792, now with more than 450 lawyers, four US offices and outposts in Beijing, Hong Kong, Brussels and London.55 UK and US-qualified lawyers.Handles capital markets, corporate/M&A, financial restructuring, global finance, litigation and tax matters.NoRead about the firm in the US
Cahill Gordon & ReindelLondon office of US firm. Opened 2000.New York firm also in DC and London. Roughly 300 lawyers worldwide.Five US-qualified lawyers and two UK-qualified.High-yield debt specialists.No Read about the firm in the US
Chadbourne &
ParkeLondon office of US firm. Opened 1994.New York firm with 350 lawyers in NY, DC, Dubai, Istanbul, Jo’burg, LA, London, Mexico City, Moscow and São Paulo.Well-established office with 33 US, UK and European-qualified lawyers.Project finance, corporate, insurance & reinsurance, product liability and litigation.NoRead about the firm in the US
Clausen Miller PCLondon office of US firm. Opened 2002.Chicago-based firm with 100
lawyers in four US offices, as well
as London (and affiliates in Brussels, Düsseldorf, Paris and Rome).Known as Clausen Miller LLP in the UK
and head office of Clausen Miller International. Staffed by four lawyers.Mainly insurance/reinsurance litigation, with commercial litigation practice as well.No
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & HamiltonLondon office of US firm. Opened 1971.1,200 lawyers across two offices in America (NY and DC), two in South America, eight in Europe (some very long-standing), three in Asia and one in Abu Dhabi.100 UK and US-qualified lawyers.Capital markets, finance, M&A, tax, competition, litigation/arbitration and IP.Yes (12-15 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Constantine
CannonLondon office of US firm.50 lawyers in NY, DC, San Fran and London. Focused on competition/antitrust litigation.Eight UK-qualified lawyers.Art law and competition/antitrustNo
Covington &
BurlingLondon office of US firm. Opened 1988.850+ lawyers across five US offices plus Beijing, Brussels, London, Seoul and Shanghai.80 UK and
US-qualified lawyers.Regulatory specialists alongside focusing on life sciences, technology and corporate finance.Yes (7 pa)
Cozen O’ConnorLondon office of US firm. Opened 1998.Philadelphia-based firm with 600 lawyers in 22 US offices, plus Toronto and London.Seven lawyers, most UK-qualified.Insurance and reinsurance coverage, subrogated recoveries and general commercial litigation.No
Cravath, Swaine & MooreLondon office of US firm. Opened 1973.500+ lawyers. Highly prestigious NY-based corporate firm with a London office.40 US-qualified
lawyers.Corporate specialists.NoRead about the firm in the US
Crowell & MoringLondon office of US firm. Opened 1991.Nearly 500 lawyers. DC firm with six more US offices plus London and Brussels.Ten lawyers, mainly
UK-qualified.Cross-border M&A and litigation/arbitration related to energy, finance, insurance and competition.NoRead about the firm in the US
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & MosleLondon office of US firm. Opened mid-1970s.Around 300 lawyers. NY firm with three US offices, two in Latin America and 12 others in Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia.20 US and UK-qualified lawyers with distinctly international backgrounds.Finance, investment management, private equity, oil & gas, natural resources and international arbitration.Yes (2 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Davis Polk & WardwellLondon office of US firm. Opened 1972.Large, prestigious NY firm with two other US offices and a presence in Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Paris, Madrid, São Paulo and London.70 UK and US-qualified lawyers.Capital markets and M&A; particular abilities in technology-slanted transactions.Yes (4 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Debevoise & PlimptonLondon office of US firm. Opened 1989.Respected NY firm with around 680 lawyers in DC, London, Paris, Moscow, Frankfurt, Shanghai and Hong Kong.110 US and UK-qualified lawyers.Cross-border acquisitions, international arbitration, private equity, banking and finance, tax, insurance, construction, dispute resolution.Yes (8 pa) Read about the firm in the US
Dorsey & WhitneyLondon office of US firm. Opened 1986.Minneapolis-based firm with nearly 500 lawyers across 13 offices in
the US and six offices in Canada, Asia and the UK.29 mainly UK-qualified lawyers.Full service. Chambers UK-ranked for AIM capital markets and mid-market M&A work.Yes (2 pa)
Drinker Biddle & ReathLondon office of US firm. Opened in 2012.600+ lawyers. Headquartered in Philadelphia with nine other US offices.Five US-qualified lawyers.Commercial insurance.No
Duane MorrisLondon office of US firm. Opened 2000.Philadelphia-based firm with more than 750 lawyers across 21 US offices plus bases across Asia, The Middle East and Europe.12 UK-qualified lawyers.Full service.NoRead about the firm in the US
Faegre Baker DanielsLondon office opened in
1985 and boosted in 2003 by merger with UK firm Hobson Audley.750-lawyer firm, the result of a 2012 merger between Minneapolis’ Faegre & Benson and Indiana’s Baker & Daniels. 11 US offices, as well as Beijing, Shanghai and London.26 UK-qualified lawyers.Corporate finance, M&A, business litigation, finance and restructuring, commerce and technology, IP, employment and real estate.Yes (2 pa)
FinneganLondon office of US firm. Opened 2013.DC-based IP firm with five US offices and outposts in Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo, Taipei, plus London. More than 350 lawyers.One US-qualified partner, six European patent attorneys.European patent work.No Read about the firm in the US
Fragomen LLPLondon office of US firm. Opened in London 2003.1,000-strong specialist immigration. Went international in 1999 and has 21 offices in the Americas, 13 in Asia Pacific, four in Europe, plus Doha, Dubai, Johannesburg and Nairobi.70 mostly UK-qualified lawyers in London with three UK-qualified lawyers in Sheffield.Immigration only.No
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & JacobsonLondon office of US firm. Opened 1970.NY corporate firm also in DC, Frankfurt, Paris and London with 450 lawyers worldwide.53 lawyers both US and UK-qualified.Funds, M&A, private equity, finance, litigation, tax, competition and restructuring.Yes (2 pa) Read about the firm in the US
Gibson, Dunn & CrutcherLondon office of US firm. Opened 1979.Five Californian offices and four others in the US, also in London, Beijing, Munich, Brussels, Paris, Singapore, Hong Kong, São Paulo
and Dubai. More than 1,200 lawyers across all offices.85 US and UK-qualified lawyers.Full service with a focus on corporate and finance.Yes (8 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Goldberg SegallaLondon office of US firm. Opened in 2012.Founded in 2001. More than 300 lawyers. 18 US offices, seven of which in New York state.No lawyers permanently based in London; two US partners spend some time here.Commercial insurance disputes.No
GoodwinFormerly London office of collapsed firm Heller Ehrman; joined Goodwin Procter in 2008. 26 lawyers, including 5 trainees, joined from KWM in 2017.Boston-headquartered firm with more than 900 lawyers in six US offices, plus London, Paris, Frankfurt and Hong Kong.60 mostly UK-qualified lawyers.Real estate, private equity, investment funds, M&A and tax.TBCRead about the firm in the US
Greenberg Traurig MaherLondon office of US firm. Paul Maher, previously global vice chairman at Mayer Brown, launched the office in 2009.1,900 lawyers and 40 offices offices worldwide, 30 in the US. Known in the US for being highly entrepreneurial and giving its partners (‘shareholders’ in Greenberg-speak) lots of freedom to manage their own affairs.More than 40 mostly UK-qualified lawyers.Focus on M&A, capital markets and real estate work.Yes (3 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Holland & Knight
London office of US firm. Opened 2016.24 offices in the US, plus Mexico City, Bogotá and London.Seven mostly UK-qualified lawyers.Aviation and shipping.No
Read about the firm in the US
Hunton & WilliamsLondon office of US firm. Opened 1999.Virginian firm with around 750 lawyers spread across 14 US offices, three Asian, plus Brussels and London. Currently in merger talks with CMS.18 US and UK-qualified lawyers.Capital markets, project finance, data protection, energy and real estate.NoRead about the firm in the US
Husch BlackwellLondon office of US firm.Missouri-based with 600+ lawyers and 19 offices. London is the only one outside the US.No lawyers permanently based in London.Corporate/M&A, securities and litigation.No
Jenner & BlockLondon office of US firm. Opened 2015.500-lawyer Chicago-based firm with offices in LA, NY, DC and London.11 lawyers, mainly UK-qualified.White-collar, commercial litigation and arbitration.NoRead about the firm in the US
Katten Muchin RosenmanLondon office of US firm. Opened 2005.Chicago-headquartered firm with 600 attorneys in 11 US offices plus London and Shanghai.27 lawyers, mix of US
and UK-qualified.Financial services: investment funds, regulatory, corporate, banking and real estate finance.Yes (2 pa)Read about the firm in the US
King & SpaldingLondon office of US firm. Opened 2003.Over 850 lawyers work in the Atlanta HQ and 18 other offices in the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.49 lawyers.Energy, project finance, M&A, private equity, international arbitration and Islamic finance.Yes (2 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Kirkland & EllisLondon office of US firm. Opened 1994.Approx 1,900 lawyers in Chicago (HQ), NY, DC, San Fran, Palo Alto, Houston and LA, plus London, Munich, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.150 lawyers UK and US-qualified.Best known for finance; lots of the clients are private equity houses. Corporate, banking, investment funds and international arbitration are the main seat options.Yes (10 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Kobre & KimLondon office of US firm. Opened 2009.About 90 lawyers across nine offices: NY, DC, Miami, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Seoul, the Caymans, BVI and London.20 UK qualified lawyers (solicitors and barristers).All-litigation firm devoted entirely to disputes and investigations.No
Ladas & ParryLondon office of US intellectual property firm. Opened 1969.52 lawyers across NY, Chicago, LA, DC, London and Munich.Four lawyers.IP specialists.No
Latham & WatkinsLondon office of US firm. Opened 1990.Around 2,100 lawyers in 31 offices: 12 in the US, 12 in Europe, five in Asia and four in the Middle East.275 lawyers, mostly UK-qualified.Full service.Yes (24 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Lewis BaachSmall London outpost.Four offices with 32 lawyers: Washington DC, New York,
London and Buenos AiresNo lawyers permanently based in London.Litigation boutique.No
Locke LordLondon office of US firm. Opened in 2012 with nine lateral hires from Salans.Texas-based firm with nearly 900 lawyers
in 19 US offices plus Hong Kong and London.31 lawyers. All UK-qualified.Several corporate and commercial practices. Strengths include insolvency, financial services and consumer finance.Yes (2 pa)
McDermott Will & EmeryLondon office of US firm. Opened 1998.Over 1,100 lawyers in ten US and eight European offices, as well as Seoul and an alliance firm in Shanghai.38 lawyers, mostly UK-qualified.Over 1,100 lawyers in ten US and eight European offices, as well as Seoul and an alliance firm in Shanghai.Yes (2-3 pa)
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloyLondon office of US firm. Opened 1979.Wall Street firm with around 600 lawyers in three US offices, three in Europe, five in Asia and São Paulo.Around 100 lawyers, mostly UK-qualified.Corporate, finance, energy and litigation. Band-one ranked in Chambers UK for projects, aviation finance, mining and outsourcing.Yes (4-5 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and PopeoLondon office of US firm.Boston-headquartered; 500 lawyers in seven US offices and London. A liaison office in Israel.Two lawyers.Risk management and life sciences.No Read about the firm in the US
Morgan, Lewis & BockiusLondon office of US firm. Opened 1981. Expanded with 18 lawyers from defunct Dewey & LeBoeuf in 2012.2,000 lawyers in 28 offices in the US, Asia and Europe. Headquartered in Philadelphia.67 lawyers, mostly UK-qualifiedBanking, finance, corporate, employment, tax, competition and litigation.Yes (6-8 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Morrison &
FoersterLondon office of US firm. Opened 1980.Over 1,000 lawyers and 17 offices. In eight US and five Asian cities plus London, Berlin and Brussels.45 lawyers, US and UK-qualified.Full service, but London has strong transactional focus on financial services, life sciences and technology.Yes (4 pa)Read about out the firm in the US
Morrison MahoneyLondon office of US firm.Ten US offices on the East Coast plus London. About 160 lawyers.Five lawyers.Litigation. US law only.No
Nixon Peabody
London office of US firm. Opened 2007.
13 US offices plus London, Hong Kong. Singapore and Shanghai.One US-qualified partners who split his time between the US and UK.Private client. US law only. No
Read about out the firm in the US
O’MelvenyLondon office of US firm. Opened 1986.West Coast firm with seven US offices, six in Asia, plus London and Brussels. 700 lawyers worldwide.27 lawyers, mostly UK-qualified.Transactional and litigation capabilities, but finance and private equity are the drivers.Yes (4 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Orrick, Herrington & SutcliffeLondon office of US firm. Acquired London office of Coudert Bros in 2005.1,100 lawyers in 25 offices worldwide.76 lawyers.Full service.Yes (4-6 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Paul HastingsLondon office of US firm. Opened 1997.Around 1,000 lawyers in 20 offices; ten in the US, five in Europe and five in Asia.79 lawyers, almost all UK-qualified.Strongest in real estate finance and capital markets.Yes (6-7 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Paul, Weiss,
Rifkind, Wharton
& GarrisonLondon office of US firm.New York litigation powerhouse with a presence in DC, Wilmington, Toronto, London and three Asian offices. 800 lawyers globally.20 lawyers, all US-qualified.US law only. Chiefly corporate M&A, private equity, capital markets.NoRead about the firm in the US
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw PittmanLondon office of US firm. Opened 1972.13 US offices, as well as outposts
in Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi and London. 700 lawyers.30 lawyers, both UK
and US-qualified.Corporate and commercial; big on global sourcing and IT.NoRead about the firm in the US
Proskauer RoseLondon office of US firm. Opened 2007.NY firm with 13 offices: eight branches in America, plus Beijing, Hong Kong, Paris, Sao Paulo and London. 700 lawyers.69 lawyers.Corporate & finance. Concentrates on private equity.NoRead about the firm in the US
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & SullivanLondon office of US firm. Opened 2008.650-lawyer California firm with eight US offices, eight in Europe, plus Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney.54 lawyers.Litigation-only firm, with particular specialism in cases against financial institutions.No
Richards Kibbe & OrbeLondon office of US firm.58 lawyers in New York, DC and London.Five lawyers, most UK- qualified.Corporate and finance.No
Ropes & GrayLondon office of US firm. Opened in 2010 and has grown massively since.1,000-lawyer Boston-headquartered firm. Six US offices, plus London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul.126 lawyers.Focus on banking, finance and private equity.Yes (5-7 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Schulte Roth & ZabelLondon office of US firm.A 360-lawyer New York firm with
a presence in DC and London.16 lawyers. Mix of US- and UK-qualifiedMostly investment management.NoRead about the firm in the US
Scott & ScottLondon outpost of US firm. Opened 2015.42 lawyers across New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Los Angeles, Nebraska, Virginia and London.One partner, UK and Australian qualified.Competition enforcement litigation.No
SedgwickLondon office of US firm. Opened 1985.300 lawyers; 12 US offices plus London and Bermuda. California-headquartered.13 lawyers.Litigation specialists, particularly insurance.NoRead about the firm in the US
Seyfarth ShawLondon office of US firm. Opened in 2011.850 lawyers in ten US offices as well as London, Melbourne, Sydney and Shanghai. Employment and immigration experts.Ten lawyers.Employment only.No
Shearman &
SterlingLondon office of US firm. Opened 1972.850 lawyers in 20 offices worldwide – six in the Americas,
six in Europe, five in Asia and three in the Gulf states.142 lawyers, mostly
UK-qualified.Full service; especially strong in finance.Yes (15 pa) Read about the firm in the US
Shook, Hardy & BaconLondon office of US firm. Opened 1989.Nearly 500 lawyers in 11 US offices plus London.Seven lawyers, mostly UK qualified.Litigation, mostly product liability.No
Sidley AustinLondon office of US firm. Opened 1974.1,900 lawyers worldwide; ten offices in the US, six in Asia Pacific, four in Europe.118 lawyers, mostly
UK-qualified.Mostly transactional, geared towards finance matters.Yes (12 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Simpson Thacher & BartlettLondon office of US firm. Opened 1978.New York private equity powerhouse with offices in DC, LA, Houston and Palo Alto, plus São Paulo, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul. 900+ lawyers worldwide.110 lawyers, Mostly UK-, some US-qualified.Mainly finance, corporate, capital markets.NoRead about the firm in the US
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & FlomLondon office of US firm. Opened 1988.Around 1,700 lawyers across eight US offices and 15 others worldwide.118 lawyers, mostly UK-qualified.Full service; strongest on corporate in London. Chambers UK band-one ranked for international arbitration.Yes (10-12 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Smith Gambrell & Russell
London office of US firm. Opened 2017.Full-service 200-lawyer Atlanta-headquartered firm with four other US offices plus London, Southampton and Munich.Three UK-qualified lawyers.Aviation.No
Steptoe & JohnsonLondon office of US firm. Opened 2001.500 lawyers in six US offices plus London, Brussels and Beijing.33 lawyers, mostly UK-qualified.Property, corporate, private equity, insurance, international disputes, white-collar crime.No
Sullivan &
CromwellLondon office of US firm. Opened 1972.Blue-chip New York firm with three other US offices, three in Asia, two in Australia and three in Europe. Around 875 lawyers.44 lawyers: mix of UK-, US- and European-qualified.Mainly transactional, best known for capital markets, corporate, energy and projects work.Yes (4-6 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Sullivan & WorcesterLondon office of US firm. Opened 2013.Bostonians. 175 lawyers across offices in Boston, New York, DC and London.Nine UK-qualified lawyers.Trade and export finance.No
Thompson & KnightLondon office of US firm. Opened 2005.300 lawyers. Originally from Texas and energy-focused. Six US offices as well as Paris, Algiers, London and Mexico.Two UK-qualified lawyers.Finance and energy.NoRead about the firm in the US
Vedder PriceLondon office of US firm. Opened 2011.300 lawyers in Chicago and four other US cities plus offices in London and Singapore.18 mostly UK-qualified lawyers.Corporate and transport finance.NoRead about the firms in the US
Vinson & ElkinsLondon office of US firm. Opened 1971.Texas firm with eight US offices, four in Asia-Pacific plus Moscow, Riyadh, Dubai and London. Over 700 lawyers.45 lawyers, mostly UK-qualified.Especially strong in energy and projects matters.Yes (3-4 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Weil, Gotshal & MangesLondon office of US firm. Opened 1996.1,200 lawyers in eight US offices, seven in Europe, three in Asia and one in Dubai.132 lawyers, mostly
UK-qualified.Full service, especially good in private equity.Yes (up to 15 pa)Read about the firm in the US
White & CaseLondon office of US firm. Opened 1971. Approx 2,200 lawyers in 39 offices worldwide. About 390 lawyers, mostly UK-qualified. Full service; heavy on projects, corporate and finance. Yes (50 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Willkie Farr & GallagherLondon office of US firm. Opened 1988. Also have a strategic alliance with UK firm Dickson Minto.New York and Washington DC plus six European offices. 650 lawyers.44 lawyers.Primarily corporate advice on international finance, cross-border M&A and private equity.NoRead about the firm in the US
WilmerHaleFormed by merger of two US firms in 2004, one of which had been in London since 1972.1,000 lawyers in six US cities, six in Europe plus Beijing.46 lawyers in London, mostly UK-qualified.Focus on international arbitration, white-collar crime, regulatory and IP work.NoRead about the firm in the US
Winston & StrawnLondon office of US firm. Opened 2003.Chicago-based with nine US offices, four in Europe and four in Asia and Dubai.33 lawyers.Cross-border transactions and disputes, as well as IP, energy and competition.Yes (2 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Part 2: Firms created through transatlantic mergers
These can be either a large firm taking on a smaller one specifically to gain a London office (as with McGuireWoods’ absorption of Grundberg Mocatta Rakison), or two of a similar size combining to form a larger one, with better global coverage the goal (as with the Hogan Lovells or Dentons tie-ups)
Pros: New firm has ready-made UK client base and established reputation; culture of legacy English firm usually remains post-merger.
Cons: Mergers can breed ill-feeling due to unforeseen culture clashes or if US headquarters starts to dictate to London office from afar.
Merger historyWorldwide profile (office locations)Size in the UKMain UK activitiesTraining contracts?
CooleyOffice part of Edwards Wildman Palmer prior to prior to January 2015. That firm merged with London’s Kendall Freeman in 2008.Silicon Valley headquartered firm with 10 US office and a 12-lawyer Shanghai outpost. 850 lawyers worldwide.64 UK-qualified lawyers.Litigation, insurance, corporate, IP, technology and employment.Yes (up to 4 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Dechert
Long-standing English firm Titmuss Sainer merged with a Philadelphia-based outfit in 2000.
900 lawyers working from 27 offices across the US, Europe and Asia.
118 mainly UK-qualified lawyers.Full service.
Yes (10 pa)
Read about the firm in the US
DentonsResult of five major global mergers since 2010. Dentons Wilde Sapte was the city arm.World’s biggest firm by headcount. 6,500 lawyers in 125+ locations across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, China, Africa and Australia.425 lawyers in London, Milton Keynes and Watford.Full service.Yes (30 pa)
DLA PiperWell-established UK national DLA merged with American Piper Rudnick in 2005.4,000 lawyers located across 85+ offices worldwide.Around 750 lawyers in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Sheffield and Edinburgh.Full service.Yes (75 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Eversheds SutherlandUK firm Eversheds merged with Americans Sutherland in 2017. Sutherland had a 10-lawyer London office since 2014 after merger with Arbis LLP.2,300 lawyers worldwide in 61 offices.1,580 lawyers, all UK-qualified.Full service.Yes (55 pa)
Hogan LovellsUS firm Hogan & Hartson merged with major City player Lovells in 2010.Over 2,500 lawyers in 46 offices worldwide.Around 600 lawyers. (Hogan & Hartson already had 50 lawyers in London.)Full service.Yes (up to 60 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Jones DayMerger between Jones Day (which already had a London office) and UK firm Gouldens in 2003.2,500 lawyers in 46 offices worldwide.Approx 180 lawyers, almost all UK-qualified.Full service.Yes (20 pa)Read about the firm in the US
K&L GatesMerger between US firm Kilpatrick & Lockhart and UK firm Nicholson Graham & Jones in 2005 (followed by 2007 merger with US firm Preston Gates & Ellis).2,000+ lawyers across 46 offices worldwide.100 lawyers, primarily UK-qualified.Full service.Yes (10 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Mayer BrownMerger between US firm Mayer, Brown & Platt and London mid-sizer Rowe
& Maw in 2002.More than 1,500 lawyers across 24 offices worldwide (including an alliance in Brazil). Asia presence bolstered by merger with JSM in 2008.Around 240 lawyers, primarily UK-qualified.Full service.Yes (15 pa)Read about the firm in the US
McGuireWoodsSmall 2009 merger between US firm McGuire Woods and London firm Grundberg Mocatta Rakison.Based in Virginia with 1,000 lawyers in 22 offices: 20 in the US plus London, Brussels and an alliance in Shanghai.33 lawyers, mostly UK-qualified.Full service.Yes (1 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Norton Rose FulbrightMerger between US firm Fulbright & Jaworski and London-founded Norton Rose in June 2013Approx 3,500 lawyers in over 55+ offices worldwide.About 600 lawyers.Full service.Yes (up to 50 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Reed SmithSmall UK firm Warner Cranston merged with US firm Reed Smith in 2001. In 2007 Reed Smith merged with UK mid-sized firm Richards Butler.Approx 1,700 lawyers in 26 offices.300 UK-qualified. London is the largest office in the network.Full service.Yes (24 pa)Read about the firm in the US
Squire Patton BoggsUK firm Hammonds and US firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey merged in 2011. Merged with DC firm Patton Boggs in 2014.46 offices containing over 1,500 lawyers worldwide.Around 370 mainly UK-qualified lawyersFull service.Yes (20 pa)Read about the firm in the US
