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In a constantly evolving and dynamic legal landscape, law firms in Asia are always looking for ways to grow and expand. The annual list of Asia's Top 50 Largest Law Firms by headcount, published by Asian Legal Business, highlights the remarkable journey of these firms as they continue to adapt to the challenges and opportunities of the modern legal world.

 

While growth for its own sake is not a guarantee of success, there are several key benefits that can be associated with the sustained growth of law firms.

One of the most significant advantages of law firm growth is the ability to develop and maintain expertise in a wide range of legal areas. As a law firm grows, it can diversify its practice areas, allowing it to offer a broader spectrum of legal services. By doing so, law firms can attract lawyers with specialised knowledge in various domains, ranging from corporate law and intellectual property to environmental law and international trade. This diversification not only serves to attract a broader clientele but also enables law firms to provide more comprehensive and effective legal solutions to their clients.

Larger law firms often have the resources and capacity to provide their clients with more comprehensive and robust legal services. With a larger pool of legal talent, these firms can offer clients access to a wider array of legal experts, each with unique skills and experiences. This increased expertise allows law firms to better cater to their clients' unique needs and challenges, delivering more comprehensive legal solutions.

Growth is a crucial factor for law firms aiming to expand their presence globally. As a law firm grows, it can establish international offices, alliances, and affiliations, enabling it to serve clients with cross-border legal matters more effectively. The ability to provide legal support across multiple jurisdictions is a significant advantage, particularly for multinational corporations and clients with a global footprint. The global reach afforded by a larger law firm helps position it as a trusted partner in navigating the complexities of international law.

Law firm growth often brings with it greater financial resources, which can be allocated towards technology and innovation. Law firms can streamline their internal processes with advanced technologies, improving efficiency and productivity. This can result in cost savings for clients and more accurate and timely legal services. Additionally, investment in innovative legal technologies can enhance research capabilities, data analysis, and client communication, ensuring that law firms remain at the forefront of the legal industry's evolution.

Growing law firms have the opportunity to attract top legal talent and provide them with a platform to thrive and develop their careers. This creates a competitive environment that encourages lawyers to excel and contribute their best to the firm. Moreover, larger law firms can invest in ongoing training and development programs, ensuring that their legal professionals remain up to date with the latest legal trends and best practices. The ability to recruit and retain top talent is a key asset in delivering high-quality legal services to clients.

Economic stability is another benefit that often accompanies law firm growth. As a firm expands and diversifies its client base, it becomes less susceptible to economic downturns that may impact specific industries or regions. A larger client portfolio helps distribute risk, and the firm can better weather economic challenges. Economic stability can lead to long-term sustainability and resilience, making law firms more reliable partners for their clients.

A larger headcount can translate into a stronger market presence and a more significant competitive advantage. Potential clients often perceive larger law firms as more reputable and capable of handling complex legal matters. The visibility and reputation that come with growth can lead to a steady influx of clients and new opportunities. Moreover, larger law firms can leverage their size to negotiate better terms with vendors, obtain favourable rates, and secure valuable partnerships, all of which contribute to their competitive edge.

As law firms continue to adapt and evolve, they must weigh these benefits against the challenges associated with expansion, always striving to provide their clients the best possible legal services in a rapidly changing world.

 

THE LIST

 

ALB 2023 TOP 50 FIRMS (INTERNATIONAL)

RANK

FIRM

HEADQUARTERS

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Baker McKenzie

U.S.

335

555

1048

2

Linklaters

UK

70

272

375

3

Clifford Chance

UK

76

254

330

4

Allen & Overy

UK

69

183

305

5

Herbert Smith Freehills

UK/Australia

78

92

241

6

Mayer Brown

U.S.

85

140

233

7

Ashurst

UK

59

152

227

8

Sidley Austin

U.S.

35

143

182

9

White & Case

U.S.

57

124

181

10

Norton Rose Fulbright

UK

65

98

180

11

Morrison & Foerster

U.S.

58

118

176

12

K&L Gates

U.S.

68

74

162

13

Withersworldwide

UK

53

98

159

14

Stephenson Harwood

UK

48

107

155

15

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

UK

41

86

146

16

Bird & Bird

UK

32

102

143

17

Reed Smith

U.S.

46

70

136

18

DLA Piper

UK/U.S.

55

29

135

19

Hogan Lovells

UK/U.S.

42

65

134

20

Morgan Lewis & Bockius

U.S.

39

94

133

21

Latham & Watkins

U.S.

45

71

128

22

Kirkland & Ellis

U.S.

31

67

116

23

Jones Day

U.S.

49

55

104

24

Clyde & Co

U.S.

26

38

99

25

HFW

UK

32

62

94

26

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

U.S.

18

74

92

27

Cooley

U.S.

15

47

91

28

CMS

UK/Germany

28

57

88

29

Pinsent Masons

UK

26

61

87

30

Watson Farley & Williams

UK

22

34

87

31

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher

U.S.

25

50

83

32

Davis Polk & Wardwell

U.S.

19

49

81

33

Ropes & Gray

U.S.

21

47

79

34

Paul Hastings

U.S.

18

41

79

35

Squire Patton Boggs

U.S.

33

23

78

36

Kennedys

UK

21

56

77

37

O'Melveny & Myers

U.S.

25

25

76

38

Simmons & Simmons

UK

31

44

75

39

Ince

UK

13

23

74

40

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

U.S.

7

49

66

41

Duane Morris & Selvam

U.S.

10

32

65

42

Eversheds Sutherland

U.S./UK

21

48

63

43

Shearman & Sterling

U.S.

14

43

57

44

Slaughter & May

UK

14

35

53

45

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

U.S.

13

12

50

46

Milbank

U.S.

13

30

48

47

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe

UK

16

11

46

48

King & Spalding

U.S.

13

22

36

49

Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison

U.S.

7

19

34

50

Taylor Wessing

UK

17

10

31

 

ALB 2023 TOP 50 FIRMS (DOMESTIC)

RANK

FIRM

HEADQUARTERS

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Yingke Law Firm
盈科律师事务所

China

1288

10482

14935

2

Dentons China
大成律师事务所

China

1939

5029

7113

3

DeHeng Law Offices
德恒律师事务所

China

906

3287

4312

4

AllBright Law Offices
锦天城律师事务所

China

914

3029

3994

5

Tahota Law Firm
泰和泰律师事务所

China

933

2557

3714

6

W&H Law Firm
炜衡律师事务所

China

1041

2611

3669

7

Grandall Law Firm
国浩律师事务所

China

1270

2242

3512

8

Beijing DHH Law Firm
北京德和衡律师事务所

China

211

2653

2864

9

Zhonglun W&D Law Firm
中伦文德律师事务所

China

685

1731

2628

10

China Commercial Law Firm
华商律师事务所

China

251

2319

2570

11

King & Wood Mallesons
金杜律师事务所

China

488

1979

2555

12

Zhong Yin Law Firm
中银律师事务所

China

104

2229

2339

13

Hui Ye Law Firm
汇业律师事务所

China

532

1699

2306

14

Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm
金诚同达律师事务所

China

521

1040

1791

15

Zhong Lun Law Firm
中伦律师事务所

China

394

1326

1766

16

Zhong Wen Law Firm
中闻律师事务所

China

465

1300

1765

17

Hylands Law Firm
浩天律师事务所

China

483

1265

1748

18

Hiways Law Firm
海华永泰律师事务所

China

445

1128

1701

19

Guanghe Law Firm
广东广和律师事务所

China

219

1470

1689

20

Hansheng Law Offices
汉盛律师事务所

China

265

1178

1608

21

TianTai Law Firm
天驰君泰律师事务所

China

489

1038

1552

22

SGLA Law Firm
中联律师事务所

China

352

1112

1508

23

Shanghai City Development Law Firm
上海市建纬律师事务所

China

317

1063

1408

24

Guantao Law Firm
观韬中茂律师事务所

China

409

941

1350

25

Mingju Law Firm
四川明炬律师事务所

China

124

1179

1320

26

Kim & Chang

Korea

225

1055

1280

27

Leaqual Law Firm
两高律师事务所

China

168

563

1123

28

Khaitan & Co

India

205

817

1030

29

Jingtian & Gongcheng
竞天公诚律师事务所

China

278

745

1029

30

Tian Yuan Law Firm
天元律师事务所

China

257

748

1005

31

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas

India

180

820

1000

32

Trilegal

India

114

850

970

33

JunHe LLP
君合律师事务所

China

273

666

961

34

ETR Law Firm
广信君达律师事务所

China

187

760

947

35

Guangdong Kingbridge Law Firm
广东金桥百信律师事务所

China

113

761

926

36

JOINTIDE Law Firm
山东众成清泰律师事务所

China

299

479

817

37

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas

India

163

648

811

38

Nishimura & Asahi

Japan

240

476

798

39

Han Kun Law Offices
汉坤律师事务所

China

170

608

778

40

Capital Equity Legal Group
京衡律师事务所

China

94

684

778

41

Rajah & Tann

Singapore

277

484

776

42

Lantai Partners
兰台律师事务所

China

168

603

771

43

Guangdong Sun Law Firm
广东国晖律师事务所

China

65

758

758

44

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

Japan

182

435

709

45

Yulchon

Korea

274

407

681

46

Shin & Kim

Korea

292

375

667

47

Lee & Ko

Korea

322

342

664

48

JunZeJun Law Offices
君泽君律师事务所

China

181

451

646

49

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

Japan

194

372

627

50

AZB & Partners

India

132

481

613

 

ALB 2023 TOP CHINA FIRMS (INTERNATIONAL)

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Clifford Chance

11

52

58

2

Cooley

6

25

52

3

Morgan Lewis & Bockius

7

43

50

4

Bird & Bird

8

37

45

5

DLA Piper

20

2

40

6

Paul Hastings

5

12

36

7

Sidley Austin

3

28

33

8

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

3

24

29

9

Herbert Smith Freehills

16

8

28

10

Pinsent Masons

7

20

27

11

CMS

7

18

25

12

White & Case

5

20

25

13

K&L Gates

9

11

23

14

O'Melveny Myers

7

6

23

15

Ropes &Gray

4

12

23

16

Clyde & Co

7

15

22

17

Baker McKenzie

6

14

22

18

Hogan Lovells

10

5

18

19

Ashurst

3

14

18

20

Dorsey & Whitney

3

13

16

21

Norton Rose Fulbright

4

11

15

22

Squire Patton Boggs

6

8

14

23

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

5

9

14

24

Reed Smith

4

6

14

25

Spruson & Ferguson

2

12

14

26

Deacons

 

14

14

27

Morrison & Foerster

4

9

13

28

HFW

3

10

13

29

Eversheds Sutherland

2

11

13

30

Mayer Brown

5

6

11

 

ALB 2023 TOP CHINA FIRMS (DOMESTIC)

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Yingke Law Firm
盈科律师事务所

1288

10482

14935

2

Dacheng Law Offices
大成律师事务所

1939

5029

7113

3

DeHeng Law Offices
德恒律师事务所

906

3287

4312

4

AllBright Law Offices
锦天城律师事务所

914

3029

3994

5

Tahota Law Firm
泰和泰律师事务所

933

2557

3714

6

W&H Law Firm
炜衡律师事务所

1041

2611

3669

7

Grandall Law Firm
国浩律师事务所

1270

2242

3512

8

Beijing DHH Law Firm
北京德和衡律师事务所

211

2653

2864

9

Zhonglun W&D Law Firm
中伦文德律师事务所

685

1731

2628

10

China Commercial Law Firm
华商律师事务所

251

2319

2570

11

King & Wood Mallesons
金杜律师事务所

488

1979

2555

12

Zhong Yin Law Firm
中银律师事务所

104

2229

2339

13

Hui Ye Law Firm
汇业律师事务所

532

1699

2306

14

Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm
金诚同达律师事务所

521

1040

1791

15

Zhong Lun Law Firm
中伦律师事务所

394

1326

1766

16

Zhong Wen Law Firm
中闻律师事务所

465

1300

1765

17

Hylands Law Firm
浩天律师事务所

483

1265

1748

18

Hiways Law Firm
海华永泰律师事务所

445

1128

1701

19

Guanghe Law Firm
广和律师事务所

219

1470

1689

20

HanSheng Law Offices
汉盛律师事务所

265

1178

1608

21

Kangda Law Firm
康达律师事务所

211

1380

1592

22

TianTai Law Firm
天驰君泰律师事务所

489

1038

1552

23

SGLA Law Firm
中联律师事务所

352

1112

1508

24

Shanghai City Development Law Firm
上海市建纬律师事务所

317

1063

1408

25

Guantao Law Firm
观韬中茂律师事务所

409

941

1350

26

Mingju Law Firm
四川明炬律师事务所

124

1179

1320

27

Leaqual Law Firm
两高律师事务所

168

563

1123

28

Jingtian & Gongcheng
竞天公诚律师事务所

278

745

1029

29

Tian Yuan Law Firm
天元律师事务所

257

748

1005

30

JunHe LLP
君合律师事务所

273

666

961

 

ALB 2023 TOP HONG KONG FIRMS (INTERNATIONAL)

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Baker McKenzie

55

94

179

2

King & Wood Mallesons

33

111

170

3

Mayer Brown

59

98

165

4

Clifford Chance

35

104

144

5

Linklaters

30

86

133

6

Sidley Austin

17

84

101

7

Allen & Overy

24

38

90

8

Ashurst

19

65

85

9

DLA Piper

28

46

82

10

Reed Smith

26

44

76

11

Herbert Smith Freehills

18

53

74

12

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

25

38

72

13

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

12

54

66

14

Latham & Watkins

16

36

55

15

White & Case

18

36

54

16

HFW

17

34

51

17

Norton Rose Fulbright

15

32

50

18

Slaughter & May

12

37

50

19

Kirkland & Ellis

29

19

48

20

Bird & Bird

10

30

45

 

ALB 2023 TOP HONG KONG FIRMS (DOMESTIC)

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Deacons

55

117

184

2

Woo Kwan Lee & Lo

26

32

76

3

Li & Partners

9

66

75

4

Stevenson Wong & Co

14

28

55

5

P.C. Woo & Co

12

37

53

6

Gallant

17

29

46

7

Tanner De Witt

17

23

42

8

ONC Lawyers

16

17

40

9

Wilkinson & Grist

17

19

36

10

Robertsons

15

12

32

 

ALB 2023 TOP INDIA FIRMS

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Khaitan & Co

202

816

1026

2

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas

170

830

1000

3

Trilegal

114

850

970

4

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas

163

648

811

5

AZB & Partners

132

481

613

6

IndusLaw

67

389

456

7

JSA

127

314

441

8

Luthra & Luthra

62

235

362

9

DSK Legal

62

243

307

10

S&A Law Offices

21

150

250

11

Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan

42

62

225

12

Desai & Diwanji

38

184

222

13

Dentons Link Legal

38

170

208

14

Fox Mandal & Co

28

186

207

15

Kochhar & Co

46

145

191

16

Dua Associates

72

104

176

17

Saraf & Partners

37

139

176

18

Anand and Anand

36

129

165

19

Economic Laws Practice

42

101

160

20

HSA Advocates

29

120

149

21

Wadia Ghandy & Co

36

98

134

22

Singhania & Co

12

100

112

23

Vaish Associates

12

93

105

24

Krishnamurthy & Co. (K Law)

16

85

101

25

Argus Partners

18

74

92

26

Phoenix Legal

12

75

87

27

SNG & Partners

25

60

85

28

Bharucha & Partners

13

70

83

29

Dhir & Dhir

11

67

78

30

Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe

11

65

76

 

ALB 2023 TOP INDONESIA FIRMS

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (Rajah & Tann)

34

107

141

2

ABNR Counsellors at Law

22

89

115

3

Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners (a member firm of Baker McKenzie International)

14

68

96

4

Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners (Dentons HPRP)

19

50

91

5

UMBRA – Strategic Legal Solutions

11

61

72

6

SSEK Legal Consultants

14

51

65

7

SIP Law Firm

9

56

65

8

Siregar Setiawan Manalu Partnership (SSMP)

4

59

63

9

Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung

15

29

62

10

Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo

5

50

60

 

ALB 2023 TOP JAPAN FIRMS (INTERNATIONAL)

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Baker McKenzie

43

81

156

2

Morrison & Foerster

36

63

99

3

Clifford Chance

8

31

39

4

White & Case

14

22

36

5

K&L Gates

13

12

31

6

Squire Patton Boggs

12

5

27

7

Hogan Lovells

6

13

27

8

Linklaters

4

21

27

9

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

10

12

25

10

DLA Piper

6

13

24

11

Herbert Smith Freehills

5

15

22

12

Withersworldwide

10

11

21

13

Allen & Overy

6

10

19

14

Ashurst

6

9

19

15

King & Wood Mallesons

5

13

18

16

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

5

13

18

17

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe

7

7

17

18

Jones Day

5

4

17

19

Morgan Lewis & Bockius

6

9

15

20

Shearman & Sterling

4

7

11

 

ALB 2023 TOP JAPAN FIRMS (DOMESTIC)

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Nishimura & Asahi

199

387

648

2

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

180

334

571

3

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

147

328

544

4

TMI Associates

155

339

541

5

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

135

333

507

6

Atsumi & Sakai

100

79

202

7

City-Yuwa Partners

85

73

180

8

Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners

62

64

159

9

Kitahama Partners

41

45

97

10

Miura & Partners

49

26

81

 

ALB 2023 TOP MALAYSIA FIRMS

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Zaid Ibrahim & Co (in association with KPMG Law)

47

75

122

2

Skrine

43

68

115

3

Shearn Delamore

44

66

110

4

Zul Rafique & Partners

34

67

101

5

Rahmat Lim & Partners (Allen & Gledhill associate firm)

27

66

93

6

Azmi & Associates

23

70

93

7

Adnan Sundra & Low

14

74

90

8

Christopher & Lee Ong (Rajah & Tann)

37

49

88

9

Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill

31

57

88

10

Raja, Darryl & Loh

25

47

72

 

ALB 2023 TOP PHILIPPINE FIRMS

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

ACCRALAW

56

78

145

2

SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan

43

72

122

3

DivinaLaw

26

57

100

4

Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura

50

37

93

5

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

30

47

77

6

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) (Rajah & Tann)

17

48

66

7

Villaraza & Angangco

21

39

60

8

Quisumbing Torres

23

31

54

9

Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos

30

18

51

10

Puno & Puno Law Offices

16

31

47

 

ALB 2023 TOP SINGAPORE FIRMS

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Allen & Gledhill

157

254

418

2

Drew & Napier

116

128

362

3

Rajah & Tann

162

186

354

4

WongPartnership

121

217

338

5

Dentons Rodyk

95

96

191

6

Baker Mckenzie Wong & Leow

32

92

143

7

Shook Lin & Bok

61

80

141

8

Withers Khattarwong

27

65

98

9

Clifford Chance

22

67

89

10

Allen & Overy

15

58

75

11

Stephenson Harwood Alliance

22

43

65

12

Harry Elias Partnership

23

40

63

13

Norton Rose Fulbright

15

46

61

14

Ashurst

15

28

57

15

Bird & Bird ATMD

14

35

53

16

Oon & Bazul

19

29

48

17

White & Case

14

33

47

18

Herbert Smith Freehills

14

15

47

19

RHTlaw

17

15

46

20

K&L Gates Straits Law

16

26

43

 

ALB 2023 TOP SOUTH KOREA FIRMS

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Kim & Chang

225

1055

1280

2

Yulchon

271

397

668

3

Lee & Ko

318

333

651

4

Shin & Kim

284

355

639

5

Bae Kim & Lee

281

294

575

6

Yoon & Yang

161

324

485

7

Jipyong

6

310

316

8

Barun Law

6

240

246

9

DR & AJU

115

90

211

10

HMP Law

47

73

120

 

ALB 2023 TOP THAILAND FIRMS

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Tilleke & Gibbins

26

106

132

2

Weerawong, Chinnavat & Partners

10

100

110

3

Chandler MHM

19

70

103

4

Baker Mckenzie

67

14

84

5

SCL Nishimura

10

28

46

6

Rajah & Tann Thailand

12

45

59

7

KPMG Law

2

52

54

8

Allen & Overy

4

27

36

9

Hunton Andrews Kurth

5

22

32

10

Watson Farley & Williams

6

23

30

 

ALB 2023 TOP VIETNAM FIRMS

RANK

FIRM

TOTAL PARTNERS

TOTAL ASSOCIATES

TOTAL LAWYERS

1

Vision & Associates

14

88

102

2

Vilaf

15

77

92

3

Tilleke & Gibbins

6

58

64

4

Baker McKenzie (Vietnam)

8

37

57

5

LNT & Partners

9

41

50

6

YKVN

10

25

39

7

Global Vietnam Lawyers

8

15

38

8

Dentons LuatViet

3

18

36

9

Nishimura & Asahi

6

21

32

10

KPMG Law

5

27

32

 

 

 

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