Linklaters

{{Short description|London headquartered multinational law firm}}

{{Infobox Law Firm

| name = Linklaters LLP

| headquarters = London, {{postcode|EC|2}} United Kingdom

| num_offices = 31 in 21 countries; 44 in 27 countries when including offices of allied/associated firms{{cite web|url=http://www.linklaters.com/AboutUs/AboutUs/Pages/Aboutourbusiness.aspx|publisher=Linklaters LLP|title=Linklaters - About our business|access-date=15 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020041407/http://www.linklaters.com/AboutUs/AboutUs/Pages/Aboutourbusiness.aspx|archive-date=20 October 2014|url-status=dead}}

| num_lawyers= approx. 3,100 (including 560 Partners) (as of June 2023)

| num_employees = 7,139

| key_people = {{plainlist|

Paul Lewis (Firmwide Managing Partner)
Aedamar Comiskey{{Cite web|title=Two top Hong Kong partners join new firms and make tracks for London|url=https://www.globallegalpost.com/big-stories/two-top-hong-kong-partners-join-new-firms-and-make-tracks-for-london-9407051/|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Globallegalpost.com}}{{Cite web|date=2019-11-06|title=Linklaters' top brass see earnings jump by 17% as profit pot hits £25 million|url=https://www.legalcheek.com/2019/11/linklaters-top-brass-see-earnings-jump-by-17-as-profit-pot-hits-25-million/|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Legalcheek.com}}
(Senior Partner and Chair)}}

| revenue = £1.9 billion{{Cite news |url= https://www.legalcheek.com/2023/07/linklaters-becomes-latest-magic-circle-firm-to-post-record-revenues/ |title=Linklaters becomes latest Magic Circle firm to post record revenues |website=legalcheek.com |date=2023-07-25 |access-date=2023-11-18}}

| profit_per_equity_partner = £1.8 million

| date_founded = 1838

| company_type = Limited liability partnership

| homepage = {{URL|linklaters.com}}

}}

Linklaters LLP is a British multinational law firm, headquartered in London. Founded in 1838, it is one of the four 'Magic Circle' law firms known for their corporate and financial expertise. It currently employs about 3,100 lawyers in 31 offices across 21 countries.

In financial year 2023-24, Linklaters reported revenues of £2.1 billion and average profits per equity partner of £1.9 million. In the UK, the firm has top-tier rankings across many practice areas, including corporate/M&A, capital markets, litigation, banking and finance, restructuring and insolvency, antitrust and tax.{{Cite web|url=https://chambers.com/law-firm/linklaters-uk-1:255|title=Linklaters, UK | Chambers Rankings|website=Chambers.com|access-date=4 October 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.legal500.com/firms/2086-linklaters-llp/329-london-ec2y|title=The Legal 500 > Linklaters LLP|access-date=14 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829153824/http://www.legal500.com/firms/2086-linklaters-llp/329-london-ec2y|archive-date=29 August 2014|url-status=dead}} In 2021, Linklaters was ranked second for the number of FTSE 100 clients.{{Cite web|url=https://www.law.com/international-edition/2021/03/01/slaughter-and-may-maintains-lead-in-large-listed-client-rankings/|title=Slaughter and May Maintains Lead in Large Listed Client Rankings|website=Law.com|access-date=8 April 2022}} For direct deals by institutional investors in the first half of 2016, Linklaters tied for first place.{{cite web|url = http://www.swfinstitute.org/swf-article/comeback-goldman-sachs-tops-swfi-financial-advisory-league-table-for-h1-2016-1048/|title = COMEBACK: Goldman Sachs Tops SWFI Financial Advisory League Table for H1 2016|publisher = Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute|date = 2016-07-06|access-date = 23 October 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161023201819/http://www.swfinstitute.org/swf-article/comeback-goldman-sachs-tops-swfi-financial-advisory-league-table-for-h1-2016-1048/|archive-date = 23 October 2016|url-status = dead}} In the 2021 Global Law Firm Brand Index, Linklaters was named as having the world's fourth strongest brand.{{Cite web|title=Baker McKenzie, DLA Piper, and Dentons top the 2021 Acritas Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index|url=https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/press-releases/2021/january/baker-mckenzie-dla-piper-and-dentons-top-the-2021-acritas-global-elite-law-firm-brand-index.html|access-date=2021-08-12|website=Thomsonreuters.com|language=en}}

History

Linklaters was founded in London in 1838 when John Linklater entered into a partnership with Julius Dods.{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/linklaters/docs/linklaters_history_passing_the_flame?e=2011527/2493991|title=Passing the Flame|access-date=15 June 2013|publisher=Linklaters and GM Toucari|year=2013|page=2}} The firm, initially known as Dods & Linklater, developed a practice in corporate law, including advising on the creation of the Metropolitan Water Board.{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/linklaters/docs/linklaters_history_passing_the_flame?e=2011527/2493991|title=Passing the Flame|access-date=15 June 2013|publisher=Linklaters and GM Toucari|year=2013|page=6}}

On 4 May 1920, the firm, then known as Linklater & Co, merged with another renowned London firm, Paines Blythe & Huxtable,{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/linklaters/docs/linklaters_history_passing_the_flame?e=2011527/2493991|title=Passing the Flame|access-date=15 June 2013|publisher=Linklaters and GM Toucari|year=2013|page=7}} which had been founded by a descendant of Thomas Paine.

For most of the twentieth century, Linklaters & Paines was predominately a domestic corporate law firm, with only a small number of overseas offices. However, in 1998, Linklaters & Alliance was created in partnership with many of Europe's leading law firms, including De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in Amsterdam, De Bandt van Hecke Lagae in Brussels, Loesch & Wolter in Luxembourg, Lagerlöf & Leman in Stockholm and Oppenhoff & Rädler in Germany.{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/linklaters/docs/linklaters_history_passing_the_flame?e=2011527/2493991|title=Passing the Flame|access-date=15 June 2013|publisher=Linklaters and GM Toucari|year=2013|page=93}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/law-the-firm-that-wants-to-conquer-the-world-1173075.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/law-the-firm-that-wants-to-conquer-the-world-1173075.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Law: The firm that wants to conquer the world|access-date=15 June 2013|newspaper=The Independent|date=21 August 1998}} Over the next five years, Linklaters & Paines merged with the last four of these Alliance firms, as well as several other European firms, in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Germany, Czech Republic and Poland. The firm opened new offices in Amsterdam, Bangkok, Beijing, Budapest, Bucharest, Bratislava, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Rome, São Paulo, and Shanghai. In 1999, amid this global expansion, the firm shortened its name to Linklaters.{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/linklaters/docs/linklaters_history_passing_the_flame?e=2011527/2493991|title=Passing the Flame|access-date=15 June 2013|publisher=Linklaters and GM Toucari|year=2013|page=134}}

On 1 April 2005, after Japan enacted laws to allow certain international law firms to open offices in the country, Linklaters created Japan's first fully merged law firm practising Japanese, English and US law.

Linklaters spun off its offices in Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague into a separate firm, Kinstellar (an anagram of Linklaters) in 2007. In the aftermath of the credit crunch in 2008, Linklaters cut 270 jobs in London, consisting of around 120 lawyers and 150 other staff.{{cite web|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/linklaters-270-london-jobs-to-go/136509.article|title=Linklaters: 270 London jobs to go|publisher=The Lawyer|date=2009-01-29|access-date=15 June 2013}} This was reported to be part of managing partner Simon Davies' plan to become a smaller, more profitable organisation.{{cite web|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/exclusive-linklaters-to-axe-up-to-70-partners-in-massive-shake-up/136424.article|title=Linklaters to axe up to 70 partners in massive shake-up|publisher=The Lawyer|date=2009-01-23|access-date=15 June 2013}} By 2008, Linklaters had the highest gross revenue of any firm in the world, $2.4 billion, buoyed by work including the firm's role as advisor to Lehman Brothers and its world number one ranking for deals by total value.{{Cite web|title=Linklaters LLP|url=https://www.top-law-schools.com/linklaters-llp.html|access-date=2021-08-12|website=Top-law-schools.com}}

On 1 May 2012, Linklaters entered into an integrated alliance with Australian law firm Allens.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-22/aar-linklaters-agree-on-alliance-to-compete-internationally.html|title=AAR, Linklaters Agree on Alliance to Compete Internationally|access-date=15 June 2013|website=Bloomberg.com}} Allens and Linklaters operate two joint ventures in Asia: one focused on energy, resources and infrastructure services, and another on Indonesia in collaboration with domestic firm Widyawan & Partners.{{cite web|url=http://www.allens.com.au/allensandlinklaters/index.htm|publisher=Allens|title=Allens and Linklaters form integrated alliance|access-date=15 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520030717/http://www.allens.com.au/allensandlinklaters/index.htm|archive-date=20 May 2013|df=dmy-all}} On 1 February 2013, the firm entered into an alliance with leading South African law firm Webber Wentzel.{{cite web|url=http://www.webberwentzel.com/wwb/content/en/ww/ww-press-releases?oid=38296&sn=Detail-2011&pid=32711|publisher=Webber Wentzel|title=Webber Wentzel to form alliance with leading global firm|access-date=15 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518104250/http://www.webberwentzel.com/wwb/content/en/ww/ww-press-releases?oid=38296&sn=Detail-2011&pid=32711|archive-date=18 May 2013|url-status=dead}}

Linklaters also has a best-friend arrangement with Talwar Thakore & Associates, a leading Indian law firm.{{Cite web |url=http://www.magiclawyers.com/TalwarThakoreAssociates.html |title=Magic Lawyers - Talwar Thakore & Associates |access-date=27 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627175510/http://www.magiclawyers.com/TalwarThakoreAssociates.html |archive-date=27 June 2018 |url-status=dead }} Furthermore, since 2017 the firm has operated in Saudi Arabia in agreement with Zamakhchary & Co. In 2018, the firm partnered with newly established Zhao Sheng Law Firm in order to practise mainland Chinese law. The joint operation currently has offices in the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone and in Beijing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.littlelaw.co.uk/2019/06/26/linking-up-linklaters-joint-operations-partner-zhao-sheng-opens-bejing-branch/|title=Linking Up: Linklaters' joint operations partner Zhao Sheng opens Bejing [sic] branch|date=26 June 2019}}

In 2021, Linklaters opened an office in Dublin, structured as a separate partnership called "Linklaters & Co", which provides advice on EU law but not Irish domestic law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linklaters.com/en/locations/ireland|title=Linklaters | Ireland|website=Linklaters.com|access-date=8 April 2022}}{{Cite news |first=Sean |last=Pollock |date=14 March 2021 |url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/magic-circle-firm-linklaters-in-new-dublin-office-talks-40192192.html|title='Magic Circle' firm Linklaters in new Dublin office talks|newspaper=Irish Independent }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/magic-circle-law-firm-linklaters-conjures-up-first-irish-office-dkvnllw2d |title=Magic circle law firm Linklaters conjures up first Irish office |date=14 March 2021 |first=Linda|last=Daly|newspaper =The Times }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.legalcheek.com/2021/03/linklaters-sets-sights-on-becoming-first-magic-circle-law-firm-in-ireland/|title=Linklaters sets sights on becoming first magic circle law firm in Dublin |date=10 March 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.law.com/international-edition/2021/03/10/linklaters-latest-law-firm-set-for-dublin-office-launch/|title=Linklaters Latest Law Firm Set For Dublin Office Launch|website=Law.com International}} Later this same year, the firm announced its goal to cut its own Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 70 percent, and its Scope 3 emissions by 50 percent, by 2030.{{Cite web |title=Linklaters pledges to cut carbon emissions by at least half over next decade |url=https://www.globallegalpost.com/news/linklaters-pledges-to-cut-carbon-emissions-by-at-least-half-over-next-decade-5077130 |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.globallegalpost.com |language=en}}

By 2022, Linklaters had advised on more mergers and acquisitions involving Russian groups than any other major law firm.{{Cite news |last=Beioley |first=Kate |date=2022-03-05 |title=Lawyers cut ties with Kremlin-linked clients as reputational risks mount |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5ca32b8c-7e29-4a91-8854-0660e5a2891e |access-date=2022-03-10}} After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the firm was the first major law firm to announce it would end its business in Russia.

Offices

Linklaters was founded and remains headquartered in London. As of 2021, the firm has 30 offices across 20 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, North America, South America and Europe.{{cite web|url=http://www.linklaters.com/ContactUs/Pages/Index.aspx|publisher=Linklaters LLP|title=Linklaters - Contact us|access-date=15 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708233511/http://www.linklaters.com/CONTACTUS/Pages/Index.aspx|archive-date=8 July 2013|url-status=dead}}