Lawyer
The 10 Best Personal Injury Lawyer or Law Firms of X - Law is a big service-based business. Business, finance, taxation, litigation, corporate affairs, conflicts, patents, copyrights, antitrust, property, labor, arbitration, as well as administration, political, and social matters all require law expertise. While there are other criteria to rank law firms-such as revenue per partner or lawyer, the number of lawyers, or year-over-year percent growth-annual revenue remains the most accurate, consistent, and easy to follow.
1. Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP serves a niche set of corporate clients across the corporate, taxation, litigation, intellectual property, and restructuring fields. With approximately 2,000 lawyers on board, the U.S.-based firm's revenues stood at $4.15 billion in 2019, putting it at the top of the list. The firm has a number of high-profile clients including Boeing, Delta Airlines, Nike, and Verizon.
2. Latham & Watkins LLP
Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in 14 countries and more than 2,400 lawyers on board, Latham & Watkins ranks second in terms of annual revenues, with a reported $3.77 billion. The firm has a wide range of services from activism, to entertainment and media, to real estate, and white-collar defense.
3. DLA Piper
One of the biggest global law firms with lawyers in more than 40 countries, DLA Piper came into existence after a mega-merger of multiple international law firms in 2005.
Headquartered in London and Chicago, this firm came in third with annual revenues at $3.11 billion. It employs nearly 4,000 lawyers throughout its offices, with practice areas in sectors such as education, government contracting, insurance, and technology.
4. Baker McKenzie
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Chicago, Baker & McKenzie employs more than 13,000 people across 47 different countries. Its reported revenues were $2.92 billion, making it the fourth-highest on the list.
5. Dentons
Dentons is the product of a flurry of mergers in the last half decade—the most recent being a double-merger in 2020 with Cohen & Grigsby and Bingham Greenebaum Doll.
The firm boasts more than 10,000 lawyers in more than 70 countries. Dentons ranked number five on the list with an annual revenue of $2.9 billion.
6. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Skadden—as the firm is commonly known—was founded in 1948. With headquarters in New York, Skadden has 22 offices across the globe with an employee roster of more than 1,700 lawyers, and more than 50 practice areas.
Its reported annual revenues were $2.63 billion. The firm advises businesses, financial institutions, and government agencies worldwide.
7. Sidley Austin
Founded in 1866, Sidley—as it's more commonly known—is headquartered in Chicago. It reported revenues of $2.34 billion and over 1,900 lawyers in 20 offices around the world.
The firm focuses on corporate and finance, employment, regulatory and government affairs, and tax law.
8. Clifford Chance LLP
Founded in 1987 through a merger, Clifford Chance is headquartered in London and with 29 offices. Its roster includes approximately 2,400 lawyers.
According to the company's website, primary sectors include banks, healthcare, private equity, and transport and logistics. Its reported revenues were $2.3 billion.
9. Morgan Lewis
Morgan Lewis employs 2,200 lawyers and was founded in 1873. The firm reported 2.27 billion in revenue—putting it in ninth place. The firm's headquartered in Philadelphia, with a total of 31 offices around the world.
10. Hogan Lovells
Hogan Lovells was formed as a result of a merger between Lovells LLP and Hogan & Hartson in 2010. The firm currently has more than 2,600 lawyers on its roster and reported $2.25 billion in revenue—putting it in tenth place.
The firm's main offices are in London and Washington, with a total of 49 offices around the world.