This post has been updated with The Lawyer’s 2021 ranking of the top 50 US law firms in London by revenue.

The Lawyer’s new US 50 ranking confirms that the 2020 financial year was yet another record one for US law firms in the UK. Some 23 firms saw a double digit rise in revenue and seven grew their turnover by 20 per cent or more. However, not every firm enjoyed such a barnstorming performance last year.

IIt also shows that growth in the total number of lawyers working in the UK at US-led firms reached new heights, with total lawyer numbers rising by 4.7 per cent, and total number of partners at US firms rising by 4.4 per cent.

Diversity in the top 50 US law firms

The promotion and recruitment of senior female lawyers has led to a more balanced ratio of male and female partners at many of the top 50 firms, according to The Lawyer data. At some firms, the gender balance has improved markedly in favour of female partners since 2016. Overall, the proportion of female partners at these firms has risen from 18.2 per cent in 2016 to 22.6 per cent. That said, three firms still have no female partners in London.

The latest US Top 50 Firms in London 2021 report is now available here.

Top 50 US law firms in London by revenue

Rank 2021 Firm name UK revenue ($m)
1 Kirkland & Ellis 534
2 Latham & Watkins 520
3 White & Case 397
4 Baker McKenzie 316.4
5 Skadden  258.8
6 Dentons 239.5
7 Simpson Thacher 232
8 Reed Smith 214.3
9 Weil 201.3
10 Mayer Brown 197.7
11 Milbank 189.4
12 Debevoise & Plimpton 170.4
13 Squire Patton Boggs 170
14 Shearman & Sterling 168
15

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

 

 163.5
16 Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld 149.2
17 Dechert 142
18 Cleary Gottlieb 141.5
19 Sidley Austin 139.9
20 Ropes & Gray 130
21 Sullivan & Cromwell 124
22 Jones Day 120
23 Covington & Burling 113.6
24 Paul Hastings 108.6
25 Goodwin Procter 99.1
26 Proskauer 96
27 Gibson Dunn 93.8
28 Morgan Lewis 91.3
29 Davis Polk 85
30 Willkie Farr & Gallagher 79
31 Cooley 70.3
32 Fried Frank 69.5
33 Orrick 62.9
34 K&L Gates 62.4
35 Vinson & Elkins 61.5
36 Morrison & Foerster 60.8
37 McDermott Will & Emery 55
38 King & Spalding 54.3
39 Brown Rudnick 54
40= Arnold & Porter 50
40= Paul Weiss 50
40= WilmerHale 50
43 Greenberg Traurig 49.5
44 Baker Botts 41.6
45 Cadwalader 41.3
46 Fragomen 39.2
47 Winston & Strawn 37
48 Pillsbury 25.9
49 Boies Schiller Flexner 25.2
50 McGuireWoods 24.3

More news and analysis about the top US law firms in London

OUT NOW: The 2021 edition of The US Top 50 Firms in London is out now.

  • Highest level of fee income ever recorded by US firms in the UK
  • Three firms boost City revenue by more than 30%
  • Two of the eight-largest law firms in the City are US

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