The legal profession remains keenly interested in quantitative metrics, particularly when it comes to ranking firms by size, revenue, or partner earnings. The National Law Journal has recently released its annual NLJ 500, a detailed ranking of the largest law firms in the United States for the year 2024.
One of the most significant developments in this year’s ranking is DLA Piper ascending to the top position, overtaking Baker McKenzie. DLA Piper increased its headcount by 7.2% to reach 4,561 attorneys, while Baker McKenzie saw a decrement of 4.6%, bringing its total to 4,558.
Here are the top 10 firms as listed in the report:
- DLA Piper
- Baker McKenzie
- Kirkland & Ellis
- Latham & Watkins
- Norton Rose Fulbright
- Hogan Lovells
- White & Case
- Greenberg Traurig
- Jones Day
- Sidley Austin
Insights from the report indicate that while headcount growth among large firms has generally returned to pre-pandemic levels, the pace is moderate. Firms are selectively filling vacancies and cautiously expanding their ranks as transactional work begins to rebound.
For a more comprehensive analysis and the complete list of the 500 largest law firms, the full report is available on the National Law Journal’s website.