US law firm of the year

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QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN - Richard East; Sue Prevezer; John Quinn

Quinn Emanuel became the second most profitable firm in the world in 2010, with the twin pillars of IP and financial services litigation serving it very well. London grew its revenues from £7.6m to £12.4m from 2009 to 2010. Half year figures for 2011 were up to £10.5m from £4.2m on the same period last year.

 

 

 

Quinn Emanuel became the second most profitable firm in the world in 2010, with the twin pillars of IP and financial services litigation serving it very well. London grew its revenues from £7.6m to £12.4m from 2009 to 2010. Half year figures for 2011 were up to £10.5m from £4.2m on the same period last year.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

AXIOM
Al Giles

Since launching in the UK four years ago, Axiom has grown to 120 lawyers offering a new managed services model for the delivery of legal advice. The firm reported 70% growth in London for the first half of 2011 and expects to almost double revenues on a calendar-year basis.

CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON
Mark Leddy

Cleary saw a 9% rise on 2010 revenues, making it one of the top performers in the Global 100 last year and pushing it over the $1bn threshold. The firm also opened up an office in São Paulo and launched a Hong Kong law practice, while handling significant transactions for Lafarge, Sony, Stanley Black & Decker, Nortel, Dexia and Bank of America.

EDWARDS WILDMAN PALMER
Laurence Harris

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge merged with Chicago-based Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon to form Edwards Wildman Palmer in late 2011, capping an impressive period of growth at home and abroad and creating a 650-lawyer firm across 14 offices. In the City, the firm has been in serious expansion mode in the last three years, growing to a 30-partner, $30.3m business.

LATHAM & WATKINS
Andrew Moyle

This Chicago firm refuses to rest on its laurels both globally and in the City. In two years the number of partners in the London office has increased from 47 to 55, with significant deals for the likes of Norsk Hydro and ArcelorMittal driving the success. Globally, a 6% hike in revenues to $1.9bn saw the firm become the fourth largest firm by revenue worldwide.

MILBANK, TWEED, HADLEY & McCLOY
Russell Jacobs

Milbank has accelerated its London fortunes during the last three years. It has hired four partners in the City over the last 12 months, giving the firm 15 partners in London, and the office had notable roles for Goldman Sachs on the Boparan-Northern Foods deal and Sahara India’s acquisition of Grosvenor House.

SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM
Bruce Buck

Skadden’s London office has clearly diversified from a top drawer M&A boutique in the City to a more balanced outfit in the last three years, with the expansion of its disputes, arbitration and corporate investigations practices. In the last 12 months eight of the firm’s top 20 clients were European.