The Global 100: The Richest Law Firms In The World (2016)

Which law firm had the highest revenue on the planet?

Here are the top 10 firms of the 2016 Global 100, ranked by profits per equity partner:

1. Wachtell Lipton: $6,600,000
2. Quinn Emanuel: $4,420,000
3. Paul Weiss: $4,085,000
4. Sullivan & Cromwell: $3,870,000
5. Kirkland & Ellis: $3,605,000
6. Slaughter & May: $3,590,000
7. Cravath: $3,555,000
8. Simpson Thacher: $3,470,000
9. Davis Polk: $3,305,000
10. Gibson Dunn: $3,185,000

This list is quite similar to last year’s, with Wachtell, Quinn, Paul Weiss, SullCrom, and K&E all remaining in the same spots. Things go off kilter after that thanks to Slaughter & May’s reemergence on the list, knocking Simpson Thacher down to #8, and Davis Polk down to #9. What happened to Cleary? The firm now finds itself at #12 ($3.08 million PPP), below Skadden at #11 ($3.125 million PPP).

Finally, here are the top 10 of the 2016 Global 100 when ranked by headcount:

1. Dentons: 6,568
2. Baker & McKenzie: 6,045
3. Yingke: 4,929
4. DLA Piper: 3,756
5. Norton Rose Fulbright: 3,372
6. CMS Legal Services: 2,610
7. Jones Day: 2,562
8. Hogan Lovells: 2,516
9. Clifford Chance: 2,503
10. King & Wood Mallesons: 2,250

Baker & McKenzie was unable to cling to the top spot thanks to the Dentons merger with Dacheng. Fifty-eight percent of Dentons’ lawyers are now located in China. It’s also worth noting that only 46 lawyers separate Jones Day from HoLove, and only 13 lawyers separate HoLove from Clifford Chance. If any of these three firms conduct mass hiring sprees or mass layoffs, their placement in the rankings could change by next year.

These are just a few highlights from the American Lawyer’s Global 100. You can check out additional commentary and complete charts via this portal page, and we welcome your insights and observations via email or text (646-820-8477).

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The Global 100: Rankings and Analysis of the World’s Biggest Firms [Am Law Daily]
For the World’s Top-Grossing Firms, Slow and Steady Growth [American Lawyer]
Global 100 Charts: Most Revenue, Lawyers and Profits per Partner [American Lawyer]


Staci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. Follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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