|
|
|
The Lawyer Global 100, produced by The Lawyer in association with The American Lawyer, is the
definitive listing and analysis of the world's largest law firms by revenue. It is the only
publication that provides, in one place, detailed financial data and independent editorial
comment on the top 100 grossing firms, wherever they are headquartered.
All figures, including profits, turnover and headcount, are taken from the end of a firm's
financial year. This fact dictates that there are multiple financial years considered here and
considerable overlaps between this publication and The Lawyer UK 100 Annual Report, published
in September, and The Lawyer European 100, published in April. The majority of firms in the
list are US based, operating on a calendar financial year. Continental firms also operate on a
calendar year in the main, although only two firms from mainland Europe make the list. The
second-largest contributor of firms is the UK. UK firms operate predominantly on a spring yearend.
Consequently, the majority of firms listed have provided figures based on revenues to 31
December 2004, the most recent data available.
Currency calculations are based on the UK Treasury's average exchange rate for 2004
(£1=$1.414, and £1=$1.833). Figures throughout are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand
when the total is in millions and the nearest thousand when it is in thousands. All profit per
equity partner figures are an average.
The trend for transparency so noticeable in industry is also apparent in the global legal market,
with most firms happy to provide full financial results to The Lawyer. Almost all firms supplied
fee-earner figures, although in several cases we have estimated equity partner numbers. These
figures are used to calculate key indicators such as revenue per lawyer and revenue per partner.
Trainees, paralegals and consultants are not included in fee-earner figures.
However, in the interests of fairness and the fact that many partners spoke off the record, we
have not identified those firms that have cooperated officially with the research and those that
have not.
Matt Byrne, associate editor
|
|
|
|
