Company: Clifford Chance

Founders: Merger firms Coward Chance and Clifford Turner

Industry: Legal Practice

History:

Clifford Chance is the world’s biggest law firm based on both number of attorneys and revenue. Headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, the company is considered as one of UK’s “Magic Circle” of top law firms.

Clifford Chance provides legal advisory services to companies in various fields such as technology, automobiles, chemicals, real estate, pharmaceuticals, media, beverages, telecommunications, transportation and energy. It specializes in various different areas including banking, corporate finance, litigation, dispute resolution, employment laws, real estate, international trade, local and cross-border deals, constructions, private equity, intellectual property, and insurance.
The firm has more than 27 offices in 20 countries.

Although Clifford Chance was founded in 1987—when the law firms Coward Chance and Clifford-Turner merged—it has its origins in 1802. The two merger firms weren’t high ranking law firms, but since the merge Clifford Chance has made history in London and the rest of the world.

Within 10 years since its founding, the firm has expanded its offices, with additional offices established around Europe and Asia. In 1986, Clifford Chance opened a New York practice and by 1992 they became the first major overseas law firm practicing US law.

In 1999, the firm merged with Pünder, Volhard, Weber & Axster, one of the most successful and biggest German law firms. In the same year, they also merged with the American law firm Roger & Wells.

In 2002, the firm launched its California office and acquired almost 50 lawyers from the dissolving firm Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. In 2007 though, this California office ended its operations when partners defected.

2004 was a significant year for the firm when they agreed to a cost-cutting program. This move resulted to a profitable increase in revenue. By 2007, the firm was seeing dramatic increases in revenue growth. In 2008, UK firms dismissed some of their property lawyers due to the country’s financial meltdown.

Leadership: David Childs