Forty-four of the UK’s top 100 law firms posted double-digit revenue growth in 2023/24, the highest number since before the great financial crisis. In 2007/08, 61 of the top 100 grew by double digits; that figure dropped to 15 the following year and nine the year after as the economy collapsed. Last year, nearly all […]
Over the last decade, the UK’s Top 50 firms have trialled a variety of tactics to satisfy an incessant demand for revenue growth. Consolidation has been a feature of the decade, with ‘critical mass’ becoming a key term used by managing partners as they push forward their growth agendas. Internationalisation too is a hallmark of […]
An old-school Lincoln’s Inn firm with royal connections. A media-savvy employment specialist. And a full-service regional outfit with a non-lawyer CEO. The similarities aren’t immediately apparent but Farrer & Co, Lewis Silkin and Birketts all passed £100m in revenue in 2023/24, leaving rivals trailing in their wake. That’s what’s so impressive about these three firms. […]
The Lawyer’s UK200 has relatively few truly specialist firms. There are a handful of big litigation, personal injury and insurance beasts, like Stewarts, Digby Brown and Keoghs. Sackers focuses on pensions; Stowe and Vardags on family, but the bottom end of the annual ranking of the UK’s largest firms is dominated by regional independents doing […]
DLA Piper’s global co-CEO elect Charles Severs is set to begin his term two months earlier than planned. The new date will see Severs begin his term in November, replacing the outgoing Simon Levine who has been in the firm’s top job for a decade. Corporate partner Severs joined DLA in 2003, having spent the […]
The UK’s top 20 firms logged the equivalent of 2,407 more trips around the world in 2023 than they did in 2022, as business travel surged post-pandemic. According to Companies House data, these firms in 2022 collectively emitted 25,766 tCO2e from business travel – the equivalent of driving 65.9 million miles in a typical petrol-powered […]
The highly anticipated Russian aircraft trial has got underway, as aircraft lessors and their insurers battle over who should pay for planes stranded in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. Brick Court’s Mark Howard KC began the proceedings yesterday (2 October) with an opening statement focused on the “clear and simple language” of the “operator […]
Watson Farley & Williams has ended its search for new London premises, opting for a building that enables it to be the sole tenant of its City space. The firm has signed a lease at 25 Moorgate with developer Barings. The lease will run for 15 years, with the firm expecting to move into the […]
The former CEO of Taylor Vinters has left Mishcon de Reya 21 months after the firms completed their merger. According to Companies House, Matt Meyer was terminated as a member on 30 September 2024. Meyer was a member of the senior management team at Mishcon and sat on the board, where he had responsibility for […]
This report contains: The Lawyer’s City 50 ranking 2024 insight into how UK firms, particularly the magic circle are gearing up for growth an overview of the lateral hiring market, highlighting the demand for individuals and teams analysis of lawyer distribution across core practice areas to reveal key areas for firm growth and potential opportunities
This report contains: The Top 100 of The Lawyer’s UK 200 rankings overview of the financial and structural growth of these firms, including insight into key market developments over the past financial year interactive firm-specific profiles (rebranded as The Lawyer says)
This report contains: A ranking of the top 50 global law firms based on their global litigation revenue. A five-year analysis of revenue and partner headcount. An analysis of global trends in litigation over the past year.
This report contains: a ranking of the top 30 global law firms in Asia-Pacific and California by the number of partners. an analysis of the regional breakdown within California and jurisdictional breakdown within the Asia-Pacific based on lawyer and partner headcount. Interactive dashboards with firm specific data.
This report contains: an overview of the UK corporate market in 2023 and the positive shift in mood among lawyers at top corporate practices ranking of the top 50 City firms based on UK corporate revenue, highlighting those achieving significant growth insight into firms’ strategic plans for its UK corporate group over the next five years
Make your next move with The Lawyer Careers. Search and apply for thousands of vacancies, or receive email alerts for new roles when they go live. Whether you're looking at private practice, in-house legal or an exciting business support role, you'll find your future here.
Search vacancies
First, there was the Brabners Bog, and now Mills & Reeve – or should we say Reeds? – has got itself a wetland. It has partnered up with longstanding client Albanwise Environment on a nature recovery project in west Norfolk. Home to threatened species including otters, dragonflies and wildfowl, the Stoke Ferry wetland is positioned […]
Once, let’s say around two decades ago, the most eye-catching lateral hires stories were all about US firms raiding the Brits in the latter’s back yard. Then, thanks to the sheer scale of the investment of US firms in London and the growth of this City market, came US-on-US moves. Now, the top UK firms […]
The skip outside the now-defunct 9 Stone Buildings is a forlorn remnant of a 130-year history. But it’s a gift of a metaphor. Anyone following the shape of legal services will be increasingly aware that chambers’ challenges mimic those of law firms. For 9 Stone Buildings’ fate is the amplification of a trend that is sweeping […]
As Freshfields goes for a more American look, Paul Weiss is appealing to aspiring UK lawyers with a £250 grant to buy smart attire. Unveiling a generous vacation scheme package, the US firm has also hit top of the market rates with an £180,000 NQ salary. That figure will likely be even higher once its […]
Lawyer headcount growth underscores the resilience of the profession
Weightmans has appointed client relationships director Sarah Walton as its new managing partner. Walton will assume the role in April 2025 after a six-month transition period. She will be replacing current chief John Schorah, who is retiring after 12 years in the role and 18 years on the Weightmans board. In a statement, managing partner […]
Weeks after losing a senior tax partner, Travers is set for a double partner exit – this time from its pensions team. Pensions partners Andy Lewis and Dan Naylor are the latest to leave the firm. Lewis, who has been with the firm for over eight years, is set to join Sackers. He joined Travers […]
A former DWF partner has been banned from practising law after a judgment published by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) this morning revealed he had intentionally attempted communication with a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification. The ex-partner in question concerns David Storry Walton, who was part of the real estate team at DWF […]
Goodwin Procter has hired two partners from DLA Piper to strengthen its sports finance offering. Partners Paul Gray and Lewis Gaut are set to join Goodwin’s real estate finance practice in the London office. Gray joined DLA from Sidley Austin in 2014 and has been a partner at the firm for over 10 years. His […]
BDB Pitmans has lost an eight-partner team to TLT, The Lawyer can reveal. It is understood that Sarah Clark, Nick Evans, Tom Henderson, Mustafa Latif-Aramesh, Richard Marsh, Duncan O’Connor, James Ross and Angus Walker have all resigned from the partnership and are set to join TLT. The majority of the eight partners work in the […]