Being a top-tier Biglaw firm means having a big, top-tier presence across the world… right? But just how global are these global law firms after all? Is it truly a reality, or is it just a “marketing gimmick”?
Law.com International recently analyzed the number of Global 200 firms with 100+ lawyers in financial hubs around the world, and as it turns out, there are relatively few cities where even the biggest of Biglaw firms have a large legal presence. Take a look:
- New York: 77
- London: 61
- Washington, DC: 55
- Paris: 15
- Sydney: 11
- Frankfurt: 7
- Munich: 7
- Hong Kong: 4
- Madrid: 4
- Brussels: 3
- Singapore: 2
- Dubai: 0
Hmm, things are looking a little spare once we leave the US and the UK. What’s going on? Here’s a take from Law.com International’s editor-in-chief:
Why so concentrated? U.S. and U.K.-based law firms benefit from being based in common law jurisdictions, which likely makes them more profitable. Both also benefit from their strong private capital industries.
While the U.S. is the world’s largest economy, London remains the centre for the wider European private capital market. …
This is not to say that firms are not dedicated to other regions, just that certain places are more lucrative than others.
It’s all about the money, honey. Biglaw firms are more likely to send their lawyers out in force in cities where it’s easier for them to rake in the big bucks. So yes, these firms may be “global,” but they also know where money is most likely to be made, and they’re putting their best resources out on the market there.
Big Law’s Favorite (And Least Favorite) Cities [Law.com International]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on X/Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.
