Law360 Reveals The Global 20 Firms Of 2017

Law360, New York (September 10, 2017, 8:02 PM EDT) -- When it comes to having the global expertise to handle complex cross-border matters spanning multiple time zones, some firms stand out from the rest. Here, Law360 reveals its seventh annual ranking of the firms with the biggest international presence.

Jumping into first place this year is White & Case LLP. The New York City-based powerhouse leapfrogged Allen & Overy LLP, which held the No. 1 spot for the past two years. Baker McKenzie, Hogan Lovells LLP and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP round out the top five of 2017’s most global firms.

In order to make the Global 20, firms are evaluated based on a host of quantitative and qualitative factors. In terms of the numbers, each firm must have office locations in numerous countries, and a significant portion of their attorneys and offices must be outside of their home country.

Headcount alone does not make a firm global, and those that made the ranking vary dramatically in size. On one end is Shearman & Sterling LLP, with just over 800 attorneys in 20 offices worldwide. On the other is legal giant Dentons, with 10 times that headcount and over 8,000 lawyers in 150 offices.

The average Global 20 firm has grown since last year. The typical firm on this ranking is about 200 attorneys larger and has two more offices than in 2016.