LAWCROSSING FEATURED EMPLOYER OF THE WEEK
1. 800. 973.1177
Baker & McKenzie [Adam Silver] The largest firm in the world can offer positions in parts of the world where no other firm dares to venture -- and the opportunity to work with clients and cases that rival any top firm.
A magnifying glass companion à la the
Member counts Baker among the top 10
Oxford English Dictionary would be required to read the names of the attorneys at Baker & McKenzie if they were to be listed here. With well over 3,000 attorneys and 5,000-plus more in support staff, Chicago-based Baker & McKenzie is far and away the largest law firm in the world. Crossing the 1,000 attorney mark 17 years ago, Baker has continued to lead the market, at least in terms of sheer numbers. Comparing Baker to other firms is akin to measuring a whale against a man. For example, Baker has more M&A lawyers than most mid-sized firms have total attorneys.
corporate firms. PLC Global Counsel recently named Baker the International law Firm of the Year and the Asia Pacific Law Firm of the Year. Baker’s international achievements, particularly in Asia, set it apart from the pack. COO Craig Courter was recently singled out by Law Technology News as “IT Director of 2003.” Baker’s pro bono efforts have also been commended and garnered the firm numerous distinctions. Baker has a practice encompassing a wide array of areas: banking, corporate, tax, real estate, litigation, intellectual property, project finance, antitrust, insurance, com-
Considering the volume of the firm, Baker is
mercial, employment and communications.
relatively young. It traces its roots back only
Not only does Baker excel in corporate work,
as far as 1949. However, it wasn’t long before
but it does so on an international level that is
it started expanding on an international
unique to a firm of its size.
scale. Though many firms have overseas offices, there isn’t one that can compete with
As might be expected of such a large firm,
Baker in terms of global scope. There are
Baker requires its associates to be self-
more offices around the world than there are
motivated and independent. Though some
teams in the NFL and the NBA combined.
attorneys may view this as a drawback, the
Though already a legal empire in the 1980s,
benefit is a good deal more individuality than
the firm witnessed a startling growth at the
other firms afford. However, Baker attorneys
end of the decade all the way through the
are not islands to themselves; they benefit
90s. In that time, the already sizable amount
from a massive network via that universal,
of attorneys tripled. Revenues of the firm
inter-personal glue: the internet.
now exceed $1 billion. Be it Australia or China, Egypt or Brazil; As with any large firm (even though in this
chances are, if you’re in a major city, there’s
respect there is no true peer), there is the
a Baker & McKenzie office not too far from
question of quantity vs. quality. In the case of
you. For attorneys looking to do sophisticated
Baker, the firm surely does not rest its repu-
corporate work and benefit from the largest
tation on numbers alone. Baker has been
network of lawyers in the universe, then this
recognized by a variety of publications and
several-member-Chicago-firm-turned-glob-
institutions for its fine work. Corporate Board
al-giant is the way to go.
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