In this article we are going to list the 15 largest law firms in the world. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 5 largest law firms in the world.
Law is one of the most widely sought-after professions in the world, with its hype dating back to colonial times. This popularity can be attributed to the high-paying salaries and reputability that come with pursuing law, as well as the influence of television shows like Boston Legal and Suits in popular culture. Law, although common, is a disciple with a lot of jargon attached to it, which can often be difficult to understand. For starters, there is a difference between general lawyers and an attorney-at-law. Attorneys are qualified licensed individuals who represent client in court. These clients can be businesses or individuals and are hired to fight a case. Lawyers, on the other hand are trained in law and advise clients on legal issues, but do not necessarily fight in court.
There are many fields and types of law. Criminal law deals with persons who have committed crimes or broken the law in any way and is a case between the individual and the state. . In criminal law, those representing the state are known as prosecutors or district attorneys, while the representatives of the client are criminal defense lawyers. Civil law is a bit different, where the case is between two parties and deals with private affairs of citizens rather than crime. There are even family lawyers who are usually from smaller firms who take cases within the context of the family, for example divorce, child abuse, adoption, etc. Besides these, practices of law include real estate law, immigration law, health law, business and corporate law, bankruptcy law, etc.
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Law firms are business entities that are formed by one or more lawyers to practice law, where they may advise clients on legal matters or represent them in court. The roles of law firm attorneys can differ from firm to firm. Firms employ both attorneys and non-attorney executives for the firm to function.
Attorneys cam hold a number of titles and positions, the highest ranking of which is the Managing Partner position. This person is usually a senior level or founding lawyer of the firm who has executive power over every-day operations of the firm. An attorney can also be a Law Firm Partner, also known as a shareholder. These attorneys are joint owners of the firm. Types of partnerships vary from firm to firm. A firm can be a sole proprietorship with only one owner, general partnership with multiple, limited liability company, (LLC), or limited liability partnership (LLP). Other attorney job titles include associates, who are less experienced attorneys that are not yet partners of the firm, of counsel attorneys, who work on contractual basis, and summer associates, who are usually students that work at firms as summer interns.
Law firms at the end of the day, are businesses that are providing their services to the general public. Their immense wealth and power stem from experience, reputation, and networking. Many big-name law firms deal with billions of dollars’ worth of deals every year. The largest law firms are mostly headquartered in the United States and United Kingdom. Nowadays, there is an increased interest in the globalization of law firms, with firms undergoing mergers, entering alliances, and making acquisitions more than before. So let’s take a look at the biggest law firms in the world fighting for justice, starting with number 15:
15. Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher
Revenue in 2019: $2 Billion
Country: United States
Lawyers: 1351
Total Employees: 2,200
Founded in Los Angeles, California in 1890, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is a global law firm with over 1,300 lawyers around the world. The firm is operated on five continents with 20 offices in the territories of North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is well known for its litigation practice, even being named the Top Litigation Department of the Year in the US in 2019 by legal magazine The American Lawyer. The firm has been around for over a century, with the firm’s attorneys having fought over 100 cases before the United States Supreme Court. The firm has represented many high-profile companies and tech giants on various lawsuits, including Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook (NASDAQ: FB), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), Dole Food Company (NYSE: DOLE), and Chevron (NYSE: CVX).
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