TOP 50 INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRMS ASIA'S TOP

COVER STORY32 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESSNOVEMBER 2015

ASIA'S TOP

LARGESTLAW FIRMS

2015RANK

FROM2014 FIRM HEADQUARTERS PARTNERS ASSOCIATES TOTAL NO.

OF LAWYERS*

1 = Baker & McKenzie U.S. 296 557 931

2 = Clifford Chance UK 79 228 409

3 = Linklaters UK 55 285 340

4 +3 Mayer Brown U.S. 80 180 260

5 +1 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer UK 37 N/A 250

6 -1 Allen & Overy UK 49 125 234

7 +2 Herbert Smith Freehills UK/Australia 50 167 232

8 -4 DLA Piper UK/U.S. 56 168 224

9 -1 Hogan Lovells UK/U.S. 53 165 218

10 +2 Jones Day U.S. 68 92 191

11 -1 Norton Rose Fulbright UK 62 126 188

12 -1 Morrion & Foerster U.S. 59 79 173

13 = Ashurst UK 35 107 148

14 +1 White & Case U.S. 44 85 139

15 -1 Sidley Austin U.S. 37 80 138

16 = Reed Smith U.S. 41 65 133

17 = Taylor Wessing UK 38 74 119

18 +14 Clyde & Co UK 31 63 119

19 = Pinsent Masons UK 28 89 117

20 +3 Latham & Watkins U.S. 29 76 105

21 -1 K&L Gates U.S. 44 53 101

22 -4 Davis Polk & Wardwell U.S. 12 82 100

23 +5 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom U.S. 20 58 97

24 NEW Morgan Lewis & Bockius U.S. 27 61 94

25 -4 Stephenson Harwood UK 27 62 89

26 +13 Simmons & Simmons UK 29 53 88

27 -2 Bird & Bird UK 27 59 88

28 +2 Watson, Farley & Williams UK 23 63 88

29 -4 Holman Fenwick Willan UK 29 58 87

30 -8 Shearman & Sterling U.S. 23 60 84

31 = Squire Patton Boggs U.S. 27 47 83

32 -5 Kirkland & Ellis U.S. 33 42 82

33 -9 Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe U.S. 23 50 78

34 = Ropes & Gray U.S. 25 50 75

35 -2 Paul Hastings U.S. 27 31 73

36 +1 Eversheds UK 22 38 65

37 -2 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett U.S. 15 48 65

38 +2 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton U.S. 10 50 63

39 NEW Dentons N/A 12 27 58

40 -4 O'Melveny & Myers U.S. 15 22 57

41 = Slaughter and May UK 13 >40 >53

42 = Ince & Co UK 16 26 51

43 +3 Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy U.S. 13 35 51

44 -6 Duane Morris & Selvam U.S. 18 19 44

45 -1 Berwin Leighton Paisner UK 16 26 42

46 NEW Winston & Strawn U.S. 17 14 39

47 +1 Minter Ellison Australia 14 N/A >37

48 -1 Sullivan & Cromwell U.S. 8 26 37

49 NEW Troutman Sanders U.S. 9 27 36

50 -1 Weil, Gotshal & Manges U.S. 10 16 32

TOP 50 INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRMS

OUR RESEARCH

• Firms were contacted in September 2015 and asked to provide partner and lawyer numbers across their Asian offices as of Sept. 1, 2015.

• ‘Total No. of Lawyers’ refers to the total number of partners, associates, counsel, consultants and foreign counsel. Paralegals, trainees and pupils were not included in this figure.

• In the instance where a firm did not make a submission, figures were obtained either from the firm’s website, an official Law Society resource, or from last year’s submission.

• The research did not include Australia and New Zealand. Only lawyers and partners based in Asia were taken into account for this research.

• In the instance where two firms had the same number of total lawyers, the firm with the greater number of partners was ranked higher.

NOTE: In the instance where a law firm did not make a submission, figures were obtained either from the firm’s website, an official Law Society resource, or from last year’s submission.

COVER STORY 33WWW.LEGALBUsInEssOnLInE.COM: @ALB_Magazine : Connect with Asian Legal Business

As the global economy continues its steady recovery, Asia is fast becoming the epi-centre of growth. Asian companies are ramping up their outbound activity, and a number of initiatives like the ASEAN Economic Community and the One Belt, One Road project are in motion, with the goal of boosting economic cooperation and connectivity in the region. According to Thomson Reuters data, announced M&A activity with any Asian involvement (ex-cluding Japan) in the first nine months of 2015 reached an all-time high of $829.7 billion, a whopping 61 percent jump over the $515.2 billion in that period last year.

Asia’s growth is certainly creating busi-ness opportunities and stimulating demand for legal services in the region. The past 12 months alone have seen a wave of law firm mergers and alliances, new office openings, and the expansion of existing Asian offices through lateral hires, internal promotions and relocations. These trends are reflected in our domestic and interna-tional firm tables featured in this report.

For the second year running, in order to widen the scope of the research and offer a more comprehensive overview of the legal market in Asia, ALB has separated Asia’s Top 50 Largest Law Firms list into two tables: “Top 50 International Firms” and “Top 50 Asian Firms”.

2015RANK

FROM2014 FIRM HEADQUARTERS PARTNERS ASSOCIATES TOTAL NO.

OF LAWYERS*

1 +1 Dacheng Law Offices China 1197 1015 4311

2 -1 Beijing Yingke Law Firm China 1056 2164 3220

3 = Zhong Yin Law Firm China 222 999 1221

4 +3 Kim & Chang South Korea 120 N/A >1,200

5 +1 DeHeng Law Offices China 373 485 1182

6 +3 AllBright Law Offices China 307 777 1084

7 -2 Grandall Law Firm China 280 720 1000

8 = Zhong Lun Law Firm China 220 780 1000

9 -5 King & Wood Mallesons China/Australia 274 213 696

10 +8 Guanghe Law Firm China 141 256 645

11 = Long An Law Firm China 202 413 615

12 NEW Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas India 90 463 605

13 NEW Tian Yuan Law Firm China 78 >500 >578

14 -1 Nishimura & Asahi Japan 102 363 522

15 = Lee & Ko South Korea 143 367 510

16 +3 Beijing DHH Law Firm China 70 64 471

17 = Tahota Law Firm China 81 387 468

18 +3 Lee and Li Taiwan 60 384 444

19 +1 Rajah & Tann Singapore 173 257 430

20 -4 Bae, Kim & Lee South Korea 170 254 424

21 NEW Sichuan Mingju Law Firm China 52 369 421

22 +3 Khaitan & Co India 101 314 415

23 +5 Guantao Law Firm China 92 315 414

24 -10 Zhong Lun W&D Law Firm China 207 196 403

25 -3 Shin & Kim South Korea 153 197 391

26 +7 Anderson Mori & Tomotsune Japan 117 215 380

27 -4 Yulchon South Korea 132 182 378

28 NEW Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co India 70 289 370

29 -2 Allen & Gledhill Singapore 143 222 367

30 -4 Mori Hamada & Matsumoto Japan 100 263 363

31 +8 Fangda Partners China 63 294 357

32 -20 JunHe China 186 150 353

33 -9 TMI Associates Japan 71 282 353

34 -2 Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu Japan 93 209 343

35 +12 Jincheng Tongda & Neal China 126 213 339

36 +7 AZB & Partners India 60 260 320

37 -7 Yoon & Yang South Korea 115 165 315

38 -2 WongPartnership Singapore 103 206 309

39 -5 J. Sagar Associates India 75 211 306

40 NEW King & Capital China 97 58 300

41 -4 Jingtian & Gongcheng China 83 208 291

42 +2 Hylands Law Firm China 70 200 280

43 -1 Global Law Office China 60 220 280

44 -6 Drew & Napier Singapore 87 122 278

45 -16 Luthra & Luthra India 54 220 274

46 -6 ZICOlaw Malaysia 69 200 273

47 NEW Jointide Law Firm China 121 79 266

48 NEW Gaopeng & Partners China 65 155 220

49 -8 Deacons Hong Kong 52 148 213

50 NEW Zhongzi Law Office China 41 167 208

TOP 50 ASIAN LAW FIRMS

While the past 12 months have seen some international firms scale back operations – and in a few cases, pull out of Asia entirely – the majority of firms continue to invest heavily in their Asian operations. Several international law firms have strengthened their Asian presence, expanding out of the financial centres of Hong Kong and Singapore, and into jurisdictions like Japan, Korea and Indonesia.

U.S. law firms account for 27 of the 50 largest international firms in Asia, though only three feature in the top ten. Meanwhile, UK firms make up 18 of the 50 largest international firms in Asia, with four in the top ten. Firms with joint headquarters like DLA Piper (UK/U.S.), Hogan Lovells (UK/U.S.) and Herbert Smith Freehills (UK/Australia) also feature in the top ten. With 931 lawyers, Baker & McKenzie takes the crown for the second year running as the

ASIA'S TOP 50

*Total No. of lawyers is the total number of partners and associates, as well as other counsel, consultants and foreign counsel. Paralegals, trainees and pupils


largest international firm by headcount in Asia. UK Magic Circle firms Clifford Chance and Linklaters retain the second and third spots from last year, with 409 and 340 lawyers in Asia, respectively. Winston & Strawn and Troutman Sanders enter the Top 50 International Law Firms table this year, as well as fellow U.S. firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius, which absorbed Bingham McCutchen in November 2014 and merged with Singaporean firm Stamford Law Corporation in April this year. Dentons

With 4,311 lawyers in China, Dacheng Law Offices displaces Beijing Yingke Law Firm (3,220 lawyers) as the largest law firm in China. Zhong Yin Law Firm (1,221) is the third-largest firm in China, while DeHeng Law Offices (1,182) jumps up one spot from last year to fourth. AllBright Law Offices (1,082) catapults up three spots to fifth this year,

NORTH ASIAalso features in the table this year at #39, and is poised to climb higher in next year’s table next year once its mergers with China’s Dacheng Law Offices, Singapore’s Rodyk & Davidson and Australia’s Gadens are sealed.

Among Asian firms, Dacheng Law Offices (4,311 lawyers) clinches the top spot as the largest firm in Asia, displacing fellow Chinese firm Beijing Yingke Law Firm. Korean firm Kim & Chang (>1,200) is the only non-Chinese firm in the top ten.

2015RANK

FROM2014 FIRM PARTNERS ASSOCIATES TOTAL NO.

OF LAWYERS*

1 +1 Dacheng Law Offices 1197 1015 4311

2 -1 Beijing Yingke Law Firm 1053 2150 3203

3 = Zhong Yin Law Firm 222 999 1221

4 +1 DeHeng Law Offices 373 485 1182

5 +3 AllBright Law Offices 306 776 1082

6 +1 Zhong Lun Law Firm 220 780 1000

7 -3 Grandall Law Firm 276 718 994

8 +5 Guanghe Law Firm 141 256 645

9 = Long An Law Firm 202 413 615

10 NEW Tian Yuan Law Firm 78 >500 >578

11 -5 King & Wood Mallesons 245 138 550

12 -1 Zhong Lun W&D Law Firm 207 196 403

13 +1 Beijing DHH Law Firm 70 64 471

14 -2 Tahota Law Firm 81 383 464

15 NEW Sichuan Mingju Law Firm 52 369 421

16 -1 Guantao Law Firm 87 305 397

17 -7 JunHe 186 150 353

18 +5 Jincheng Tongda & Neal 126 213 339

19 = Fangda Partners 59 268 327

20 NEW King & Capital 97 58 300

21 -3 Jingtian & Gongcheng 82 208 290

22 -2 Global Law Office 60 220 280

23 -2 Hylands Law Firm 68 200 278

24 NEW Jointide Law Firm 121 79 266

25 NEW Gaopeng & Partners 65 155 220

26 NEW Zhongzi Law Office 41 167 208

27 -5 Tenet & Partners 65 47 178

28 -3 Boss & Young 66 104 170

29 NEW Han Kun Law Offices 34 116 162

30 NEW Watson & Band Law Offices 33 108 159

CHINA DOMESTIC2015

RANKFROM2014 FIRM PARTNERS ASSOCIATES TOTAL NO.

OF LAWYERS*

1 +3 Clifford Chance 11 36 88

2 -1 Baker & McKenzie 20 53 82

3 +2 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 5 N/A >60

4 -2 Hogan Lovells 13 47 60

5 +1 Linklaters 9 32 47

6 -3 DLA Piper 7 40 47

7 = Pinsent Masons 8 37 45

8 +4 Jones Day 20 17 39

9 = Mayer Brown JSM 8 30 38

10 NEW Clyde & Co 7 17 34

11 NEW Dentons 5 21 31

12 -2 Herbert Smith Freehills 6 23 29

13 NEW Simmons & Simmons 7 14 27

14 = Norton Rose Fulbright 10 16 26

15 +7 Reed Smith 6 7 26

16 -5 Allen & Overy 8 14 25

17 -9 CMS, China 5 20 25

18 -3 Sidley Austin 7 13 24

19 -2 White & Case 4 15 22

20 NEW Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe 6 9 20

21 -5 Taylor Wessing 4 16 20

22 -9 O'Melveny & Myers 7 4 19

23 -3 Gide Loyrette Nouel 4 15 19

24 -1 K&L Gates 7 10 18

25 NEW Bird & Bird 5 13 18

CHINA INTERNATIONAL

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

NOTE: In the instance where a law firm did not make a submission, figures were obtained either from the firm’s website, an official Law Society resource, or from last year’s submission.*Total No. of lawyers is the total number of partners and associates, as well as other counsel, consultants and foreign counsel. Paralegals, trainees and pupils

20TH ANNIVERSARY


having added more than 100 lawyers to the firm since September last year. The China Domestic table also features a number of new en-trants, including Tian Yuan Law Firm (>578), Sichuan Mingju Law Firm (421), King & Capital (300), Jointide Law Firm (266), Gaopeng & Partners (220), Zhongzi Law Office (208), Han Kun Law Offices (162) and Watson & Band Law Offices (159).

Clifford Chance (88) jumps up three places from last year to become the big-gest international law firm in China, ahead of Baker & McKenzie (82), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (>60), Hogan Lovells (60) and Linklaters (47). Jones Day (39) rises four places from #12 to #8, while

2015RANK


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Deacons 52 148 213

2 = Woo Kwan Lee & Lo 36 27 78

3 = Li & Partners 7 44 65

4 = Wilkinson & Grist 25 18 53

5 +2 Howse Williams Bowers 16 25 49

6 = P.C. Woo & Co 16 25 44

7 +2 ONC Lawyers 9 21 39

8 = Gallant Y.T. Ho & Co 17 20 37

9 +1 Hastings & Co 14 16 37

10 +1 Robertsons 15 17 36

11 +1 Stevenson, Wong & Co 13 18 35

12 +1 Oldham, Li & Nie 11 13 33

13 +1 Haldanes 15 11 30

14 +1 Smyth & Co 7 15 27

15 NEW Tanner De Witt 10 14 26

HONG KONG DOMESTIC2015


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Mayer Brown JSM 65 130 195


3 -1 Baker & McKenzie 52 86 162

4 = Linklaters 23 116 149

5 +1 King & Wood Mallesons 26 71 138

6 +3 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 20 42 109

7 -2 DLA Piper 31 72 103

8 +2 Herbert Smith Freehills 19 65 92

9 -1 Reed Smith Richards Butler 26 52 89

10 -3 Allen & Overy 17 26 86

11 +4 Davis Polk & Wardwell 8 66 78


13 +1 Stephenson Harwood 18 32 61


15 +1 Kirkland & Ellis 28 36 68

16 -3 Norton Rose Fulbright 22 44 66

17 +2 Ashurst 15 45 65

18 -1 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom 12 39 62

19 NEW Zhong Lun Law Firm 16 16 50

20 -2 Holman Fenwick Willan 15 33 48

21 NEW Clyde & Co 10 29 48

22 +2 Ropes & Gray 14 32 46

23 -2 Latham & Watkins 12 34 46

24 -2 Eversheds 15 25 45

25 NEW Simmons & Simmons 15 28 43

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL

Reed Smith (26) climbs seven spots to #15. O’Melveny & Myers falls nine places from #13 to #22, with the firm’s headcount contracting by 12 lawyers since September 2014.

In Hong Kong, a healthy flow of M&A, IPO and other transactional work is creating more work for the legal industry, causing many firms to beef up their corporate and capital markets practices. And with a fully functional Competition Law just around the corner, some firms have started to form new or bolster existing antitrust practices through partner relocations and lateral hires. Deacons retains its status as the largest Hong Kong law firm, boasting 213 lawyers, including 52 partners. The firm is

also the only Hong Kong outfit to feature in the Asia Top 50 table. Woo Kwan Lee & Lo (78), Li & Partners (65) and Wilkinson & Grist (53) cement their second, third and fourth positions, respectively. Meanwhile, Howse Williams Bowers (49), which was established in 2012, climbs two spots to #5 as it continues to aggressively hire local talent. Tanner De Witt is a new entrant this year, slotting in at #15 with 10 partners and 16 other lawyers.

The Hong Kong International table fea-tures many changes as a plethora of firms continue to actively recruit talent from their competitors. Mayer Brown JSM (195) retains its top spot, adding more than 20 lawyers to its

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34


In Hong Kong, a healthy flow ofM&A, IPO and other transactionalwork is creating more work for the

legal industry, causing many firms tobeef up their corporate and capital

markets practices.



2015RANK


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Nishimura & Asahi 98 332 480

2 +1 Mori Hamada & Matsumoto 100 263 363

3 +2 Anderson Mori & Tomotsune 112 209 362

4 = Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu 89 205 324

5 -3 TMI Associates 67 249 324

6 = City-Yuwa partners 43 70 136

7 = Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners 41 51 118

8 = Atsumi & Sakai 49 47 108

9 = Kitahama Partners 32 45 86

10 = Nakamura & Partners 36 42 81

JAPAN DOMESTIC2015


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Baker & McKenzie 49 75 160

2 = Morrison & Foerster 38 47 110

3 +2 Jones Day 15 31 56

4 = White & Case 14 34 54



7 +3 Squire Patton Boggs 12 21 35

8 = Linklaters 6 25 33

9 +2 Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe 10 20 30

10 +5 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 5 17 30


12 = Ashurst 6 19 26

13 = K&L Gates 9 10 19

14 NEW Allen & Overy 6 12 19

15 -1 DLA Piper 4 13 17

JAPAN INTERNATIONAL


offices since mid-2014. Clifford Chance (168) claims the #2 spot in the table this year, ahead of Baker & McKenzie (162). Clyde & Co (48) and Simmons & Simmons (43) are the new entrants, as well as Zhong Lun Law Firm, which merged with its Hong Kong associate firm Boughton Peterson Yang Anderson in March this year.

The Japan Domestic table reveals some movement among the ‘Big Five’ Japanese firms this year. Nishimura & Asahi still

stands as the largest law firm in Japan with 480 lawyers, 13 more than in 2014. Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (363) climbs one place in the table to clinch second, while TMI Associates (324) drops three spots to #5. Of note is the rise of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (362) to #3 this year. The firm was buoyed by the integration of its business with Bingham McCutchen Tokyo, with about 50 of the now-defunct U.S. firm’s lawyers joining the Japanese firm in April. With more than 60 lawyers

added to Anderson Mori’s Asian offices in the past 12 months, the firm rises seven spots in the Asia Top 50 table to #26.

The ‘Big Five’ Japanese firms feature in the Asia Top 50 table, with several firms opening new offices since September last year. Anderson Mori opened in Ho Chi Minh City and established a Jakarta desk in May this year, while Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu launched a Hanoi office in April. Mori Hamada set up shop in Bangkok and Nagoya in April and September, re-spectively, while Nishimura & Asahi entered into an association with Indonesian firm Rosetini & Partners in November 2014.

The top two international firms in Japan remain unchanged from last year, with Baker & McKenzie (160) and Morrison & Foerster (110) both boasting offices with more than 100 lawyers. Jones Day (56) jumps two places to #3, while Squire Patton Boggs (35) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (30) climb three and five spots, respectively. Bingham McCutchen exits the table after being absorbed by Morgan Lewis & Bockius

nishimura & Asahi still stands as the largestlaw firm in Japan with 480 lawyers, 13 more thanin 2014. Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (363) climbs

one place in the table to clinch second, whileTMI Associates (324) drops three spots to #5.



作为中国规模最大的综合性律师事务所之一，国浩始终走在中国法律服务市场的前沿，并确立了

在各个法律服务领域里的市场地位。携手国浩，将助于您取得更大的成功！

As one of the largest full-service law firms in China, Grandall is always on the leading edge of China’s legal market, and maintains significant market presence in various practice areas. Grandall will be a smart choice leading you to greater success.

• 证券与资本市场 Securities and Capital Markets • 投资与并购 Investment/M&A

• 银行与融资 Banking and Finance • 保险 Insurance

• 私募股权与风险资本 Private Equity and Venture Capital • 一般商事法律 General Business Law

• 国际贸易 International Trade • 知识产权 Intellectual Property

• 竞争法与反垄断 Competition/Antitrust • 不动产 Real Estate

• 基础设施与项目融资 Infrastructure and Project Finance • 海事海商 Shipping & Marine

• 破产清算 Bankruptcy • 争议解决 Dispute Resolution

北京 Beijing · 上海 Shanghai · 深圳 Shenzhen · 杭州 Hangzhou · 广州 Guangzhou · 昆明 Kunming · 天津 Tianjin · 成都 Chengdu宁波 Ningbo · 福州 Fuzhou · 西安 Xi’an · 南京 Nanjing · 南宁 Nanning · 香港 Hong Kong · 巴黎 Paris · 马德里 Madrid · 硅谷 Silicon Valley

www.grandall.com.cn

北京Beijing 上海Shanghai 深圳Shenzhen 杭州Hangzhou 广州Guangzhou 昆明Kunming 天津Tianjin 成都Chengdu 宁波Ningbo 福州Fuzhou 西安Xi’an 南京Nanjing 南宁Nanning 济南Ji’nan 重庆Chongqing 香港Hong Kong 巴黎Paris 马德里Madrid 硅谷Silicon Valley

作为中国规模最大的综合性律师事务所之一，国浩始终走在中国法律服务市场的前沿，并确立了

在各个法律服务领域里的市场地位。携手国浩，将助于您取得更大的成功！

As one of the largest full-service law firms in China, Grandall is always on the leading edge of China’s legal market, and maintains significant market presence in various practice areas. Grandall will be a smart choice leading you to greater success.

• 证券与资本市场 Securities and Capital Markets • 投资与并购 Investment/M&A

• 银行与融资 Banking and Finance • 保险 Insurance

• 私募股权与风险资本 Private Equity and Venture Capital • 一般商事法律 General Business Law

• 国际贸易 International Trade • 知识产权 Intellectual Property

• 竞争法与反垄断 Competition/Antitrust • 不动产 Real Estate

• 基础设施与项目融资 Infrastructure and Project Finance • 海事海商 Shipping & Marine

• 破产清算 Bankruptcy • 争议解决 Dispute Resolution

北京 Beijing · 上海 Shanghai · 深圳 Shenzhen · 杭州 Hangzhou · 广州 Guangzhou · 昆明 Kunming · 天津 Tianjin · 成都 Chengdu宁波 Ningbo · 福州 Fuzhou · 西安 Xi’an · 南京 Nanjing · 南宁 Nanning · 香港 Hong Kong · 巴黎 Paris · 马德里 Madrid · 硅谷 Silicon Valley

www.grandall.com.cn


2015RANK


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Kim & Chang 120 N/A >1,200

2 = Lee & Ko 143 367 510

3 = Bae, Kim & Lee 166 242 410

4 = Shin & Kim 150 196 387

5 = Yulchon 127 178 369

6 = Yoon & Yang 115 165 315

7 = Barun Law N/A N/A 190

8 = Jipyong 52 62 152

9 = DR & AJU 50 65 130

10 = Hwang Mok Park 49 31 94

SOUTH KOREA DOMESTIC2015


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton 2 12 15


3= -1 Paul Hastings 4 2 6

3= +6 Ropes & Gray 4 2 6

5 -2 Clifford Chance 1 3 6

6= -1 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 1 4 5

6= = Baker & McKenzie 1 3 5

8 -2 Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton 3 1 4

9 NEW Linklaters 2 2 4

10 -4 Covington & Burling 1 1 4

SOUTH KOREA INTERNATIONAL


As Korea’s leading global law firm, Kim & Chang continues to deliver innovative solutions to our clients’ most complex legal challenges.

Unrivaled Expertise and Global Reach

KOREA’S PREMIER LAW FIRM

www.kimchang.com


2015RANK


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Lee and Li 60 384 444

2 +3 Baker & McKenzie 33 33 66

3 -1 Formosa Transnational 20 43 63

4 +2 LCS & Partners N/A N/A 62

5 -2 Tsar & Tsai 23 36 59

6 -2 Chien Yeh Law Offices 15 31 59

7 = Formosan Brothers 15 20 37

8 = Deep & Far N/A N/A 35

9 = Jones Day 6 9 26

10 = Lee, Tsai & Partners 8 12 25

TAIWAN

in November last year.

With more than 1,200 lawyers, Kim & Chang stands as the largest firm in Korea, as well as the largest non-Chinese firm in Asia. The Korea Domestic table remains unchanged from last year, with Lee & Ko (510), Bae, Kim & Lee (410), Shin & Kim (387) and Yulchon (369) making up the rest of the top five largest firms.

Korea’s signing of Free Trade Agreements with the EU in July 2011 and the U.S. in March 2012 opened up the Korean legal market to American and European law firms. Since then, more than 25 international law firms have launched offices in Seoul, with

2015RANK


OF LAWYERS*

1 NEW Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas 90 463 605

2 = Khaitan & Co 101 314 415

3 NEW Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co 70 289 370

4 +1 AZB & Partners 60 260 320

5 -1 J. Sagar Associates 75 211 306

6 -3 Luthra & Luthra 54 220 274

7 -1 Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan 39 171 210

8 +8 Kochhar & Co 41 137 178

9 -2 Desai & Diwanji 17 156 173

10 -2 Trilegal 23 125 172

11 +1 Fox Mandal & Co 36 120 156

12 -2 DSK Legal 12 100 150

13 -2 M.V. Kini & Company 11 139 150

14 -5 Wadia Ghandy & Co 33 110 145

15 -2 Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe 14 86 122

16 -2 Economic Laws Practice 28 91 119

17 -2 Anand and Anand 19 95 115

18 -1 Rajani, Singhania & Partners 22 70 92

19 -1 Vaish Associates 12 78 90

20 -1 Nishith Desai Associates 8 64 72

21 -1 HSA Advocates 16 54 70

22 -1 Khaitan Sud & Partners 13 50 65

23 -1 Juris Corp 13 51 64

24 +1 Majmudar & Partners 6 50 56

25 NEW Phoenix Legal 8 44 55

INDIA


CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38 several more waiting on the sidelines. To reflect this trend, the report features a Korea International table for the second year running. Most of the office sizes in Seoul are small, as the international law firms are subject to certain restrictions that remain in force until Korea’s legal market completely opens up to European firms in July 2016 and U.S. firms in March 2017. As the Korean legal market moves closer to full liberalisation, more international firms are expected to set up shop in Seoul, and existing firms are likely to bolster their prac-tices, with some even considering mergers and alliances with domestic firms.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has the

largest international practice in Korea with 15 lawyers. Just three lawyers separate the second and tenth positions on the table. Herbert Smith Freehills climbs two spots to #2 with seven lawyers, while Covington & Burling slips four places to #10 with four lawyers. Ropes & Gray ascends six spots in the table to #3, tied with Paul Hastings with six lawyers including four partners based in Seoul.

With 444 lawyers, Lee and Li keeps its spot as the largest firm in Taiwan, and is the only Taiwanese firm in the Asia Top 50 table. Baker & McKenzie (66) jumps three spots to #2, while Formosa Transnational (63) falls one place to #3.

Korea’s signing of Free TradeAgreements with the EU in July 2011and the U.s. in March 2012 opened

up the Korean legal market toAmerican and European law firms.

since then, more than 25international law firms have launched

offices in seoul, with several morewaiting on the sidelines.


SOUTH/SOUTHEAST ASIASouth/Southeast Asia is a region with high growth potential. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region is poised for economic expansion, with the integration of the 10 ASEAN members into the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) expected to launch by the end of 2015. The AEC, which will create a trading bloc of more than 600 million people with a GDP exceeding $5.6 trillion, seeks to relax capital-flow restrictions and promote the free movement of goods, services and labour within the region. This initiative is likely to provide lucrative opportunities for legal work, particularly in areas such as financial services, telecoms, real estate, projects and consumer goods.

India’s growth remains steady, and its prime minister, Narendra Modi, whose political party emerged victorious in last year’s elections, has vowed to revive the country’s economic development. Energy and natural re-

2015RANK


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Ali Budiardjo, Nugroho, Reksodiputro 15 86 112

2 = Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners 20 83 103

3 = Assegaf Hamzah & Partners 18 78 96

4 NEW Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung 11 77 89

5 -1 Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners 12 62 74

6 -1 Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo 9 55 64

7 -1 Soewito Suhardiman Eddymurthy Kardono (SSEK) 6 47 58

8 -1 Makarim & Taira S. 7 42 50

9 = Soemadipradja & Taher 8 30 40

10 = Mochtar Karuwin Komar 6 29 38

11 = Melli Darsa & Co 4 30 37

12 -4 Makes & Partners 4 30 34

13 NEW ZICOlaw 4 26 30

14 NEW Arfidea Kadri Sahetapy-Engel Tisnadisastra (AKSET Law) 4 26 30

15 -2 Ginting & Reksodiputro 3 23 29

INDONESIA

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 3

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100032www.tylaw.com.cn

北京 · 上海 · 深圳 · 成都

北京市天元律师事务所创立于1992 年，是中国成立时间最早和规模最大的合伙制律师事务所之一。天元现有合伙人70余名，律师400余名。天元总部在北京，并在上海、深圳、成都设有分所。天元的绝大多数律师获有国内外著名法学院校的硕士、博士学位，其中，很多律师拥有在国际知名律师事务所或公司法律部门多年的工作或学习经历。天元律师能够以普通话、英语、法语、日语提供法律服务。

天元一直秉持专业、敬业、勤业的理念，致力于为客户提供高质量、高效率、全方位的法律服务。天元在证券、公司并购、反垄断、资产证券化、保险、知识产权、房地产、争议解决等业务领域处于国内领先地位。

近年荣誉：

• 1998 年，天元被中华人民共和国司法部评为首批20 家“部级文明律师事务所”之一，总分名列第二。• 2003 年入选国际权威的律师事务所评价杂志Legal 500 (The Asia Pacific) 评选的在中国领先的若干家律

师事务所之一。• 1998 年至2004 年，天元均被评为“北京市优秀律师事务所”或“人民满意的律师事务所”或“文明律师事务所”

等荣誉称号。• 2005 年，天元被中华全国律师协会评为“全国优秀律师事务所”。同时，还有一名律师被评为“全国优秀律师”、

一名律师受到全国律协的嘉奖、一名律师被评为“北京市优秀律师”；天元成为当年获奖最多的律师事务所。• 2008 年，天元被中华全国律师协会评为2005- 2007 年度“全国优秀律师事务所”。• 2011 年，天元入选《亚洲法律事务》（ALB）统计评选出的全国律师事务所发展二十强；同年，天元被中华全

国律师协会评为“2008—2010 年度全国优秀律师事务所”；这是天元连续四次获得中国律师界的最高荣誉。• 2014 年，天元被北京市司法局、北京市律师协会评为“2013-2014 年度北京市优秀律师事务所”。• 2014 年12 月，天元被清科评为“2014 年中国VC/ PE 人民币基金投资最佳法律顾问机构” 。 • 2012-2015 年，天元连续被国际权威法律服务排名机构钱伯斯（Chambers & Partners）评选为中国资本市

场、并购、争议解决和保险领域领先的律师事务所。• 2015 年，天元被投中集团(Chinaventure) 评为“2014 年中国私募投资和风险投资最佳法律顾问Top5” 。• 2015年天元被北京市律师协会选为“2012至2014年年度北京市优秀律师事务所” 。

2015RANK


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Zaid Ibrahim & Co 49 119 172

2 +1 Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill 31 74 107

3 -1 Shearn Delamore & Co 52 54 106

4 = Skrine 37 63 105

5 = Zul Rafique & Partners 37 51 90

6 = Shook Lin & Bok 25 56 81

7 +2 Wong & Partners 17 57 74

8 -1 Azmi & Associates 16 53 69

9 +2 Raja, Darryl & Loh 22 40 65

10 -2 Rahmat Lim & Partners 25 36 61

11 -1 Kadir Andri & Partners 18 43 61

12 +1 Christopher & Lee Ong 21 35 57

13 -1 Adnan Sundra & Low 13 38 54

14 +1 Jeff Leong, Poon & Wong 9 35 45

15 -1 Albar & Partners 13 24 37

MALAYSIA2015


OF LAWYERS*

1 = SyCip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan 41 82 149

2 = ACCRALAW 53 74 127

3 =Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles

45 48 95

4 = Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos 25 30 56

5 = Quisumbing Torres 19 32 51

6 =Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose Law Offices (CLTPSJ)

22 26 50

7 +1 Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako 27 19 47

8 +1 V&A Law 14 31 45

9 -2 Puno & Puno Law Offices 14 28 42

10 = PJS Law Firm 12 15 27

PHILIPPINES


sources, IT, manufacturing, financial services and healthcare have been hot sectors for M&A, with several notable deals in the pipeline. Despite the split of Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co into two firms in May, the new firms, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, are already establishing themselves as heavyweights. With 605 lawyers, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas is the largest law firm in India, while Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (370) enters the table in third. Khaitan & Co (415) retains its #2 position, while AZB & Partners (320) climbs one spot to #4, displacing J. Sagar Associates (306). Kochhar & Co (178) jumps eight places to #8, having added more than 60 lawyers to its ranks over the past 12 months.

With 112 lawyers, including 15 partners, Ali Budiardjo, Nugroho, Reksodiputro ce-ments its standing as the largest law firm in Indonesia. Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners (103) and Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (96) retain their second and third spots in the table, respectively. Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung (89) enters the ta-ble in fourth, while fellow new entrants ZICOlaw (30) and Arfidea Kadri Sahetapy-Engel Tisnadisastra (30) feature in the #13 and #14 positions, respectively.

Zaid Ibraham & Co is the largest law firm in Malaysia, with 172 lawyers, including 49 partners. Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill (107) climbs one spot to #2 this year, edging ahead of Shearn Delamore &


2015RANK


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Allen & Gledhill 143 222 367

2 = Rajah & Tann 144 190 334

3 = WongPartnership 100 202 302

4 = Drew & Napier 87 122 275

5 = Rodyk & Davidson 85 101 193

6 +1 Shook Lin & Bok 34 62 96

7 -1 Morgan Lewis Stamford 17 56 75

8 = RHTLaw Taylor Wessing 28 38 73

9 +1 Colin Ng & Partners 17 32 49

10 NEW Bird & Bird ATMD 15 27 43

SINGAPORE DOMESTIC2015


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow 25 71 96

2 NEW Withers KhattarWong 32 35 76

3 -1 Clifford Chance 21 45 76

4 = Norton Rose Fulbright 24 48 72

5 -2 Allen & Overy 13 44 66

6 -1 Linklaters 9 39 52

7 = Watson, Farley & Williams 15 30 45

8 -2 Herbert Smith Freehills 11 30 45

9 -1 Ashurst 12 30 42


11 +5 Clyde & Co 14 17 37

12 -1 Latham & Watkins 11 25 36

13 +1 Jones Day 12 15 32

14 -4 White & Case 12 19 31

15 -4 Holman Fenwick Willan 11 19 30

16 -3 Pinsent Masons 10 15 25

17 +4 Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy 6 18 26

18 -3 Stephenson Harwood 8 16 26


20 -2 Berwin Leighton Paisner 7 13 20

21 -1 Shearman & Sterling 5 14 20

22 = K&L Gates 7 10 18

23= +1 Reed Smith 9 6 17

23= NEW King & Spalding 9 7 17

25 NEW DLA Piper 5 9 14

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL

With 367 lawyers, Allen & Gledhill takes the crownas the largest firm in singapore for the third

consecutive year. While Rajah & Tann features as thesecond largest firm in singapore, it is the largest

singaporean firm in the Top 50 Asia table, due to itssizeable presence in other parts of Asia. It now boasts430 lawyers in Asia, and moves up one spot to #19 in

the Top 50 Asia table. WongPartnership (302), Drew &napier (275) and Rodyk & Davidson (193) claim the #3,

#4 and #5 spots, respectively.



Co (106) by one lawyer. Wong & Partners (74) and Raja, Darryl & Loh (65) both jump two places up the table to #7 and #9, respectively.

In the Philippines, SyCip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan is once again the largest law firm with 149 lawyers. ACCRALAW (127), Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles (95), Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos (56) and Quisumbing Torres (51) make up the rest of the largest five firms in the Philippines. Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako (47) and V&A Law (45) both climb one spot, while Puno & Puno Law Offices (42) drops two places to #9.

Although business activity in Singapore has been relatively flat in 2015, many ex-pect deal flow and opportunities for legal work to pick up in 2016, especially as the AEC starts to promote greater economic integration. With 367 lawyers, Allen & Gledhill takes the crown as the largest firm in Singapore for the third consecutive year. Close behind is Rajah & Tann with 334 lawyers, including 144 partners in


Singapore. While Rajah & Tann features as the second largest firm in Singapore, it is the largest Singaporean firm in the Top 50 Asia table, due to its sizeable presence in other parts of Asia. The firm has expanded its presence in Southeast Asia, bolster-ing its offices in Vietnam and Thailand, among others. It now boasts 430 lawyers in Asia, and moves up one spot to #19 in the Top 50 Asia table. WongPartnership (302), Drew & Napier (275) and Rodyk & Davidson (193) claim the #3, #4 and #5 spots, respectively.

With 96 lawyers, Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow is the largest international firm in Singapore. Withers (76) enters the table in second place after it forged a Formal Law Alliance with KhattarWong in April, with the latter’s entire partner-ship joining the international firm. Clifford Chance (76) drops down to #3, while Norton Rose Fulbright (72) stands firm at #4, hav-ing added nine lawyers to its ranks since September 2014. King & Spalding (17) and DLA Piper (14) enter the Singapore table this year, at the expense of Freshfields

Bruckhaus Deringer and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

In Thailand, Tilleke & Gibbins claims the top spot with 101 lawyers, displacing Siam Premier International Law Office (98). Baker & McKenzie (82) retains its #3 posi-tion, while Weerawong C&P (63) jumps two places to #4. Rajah & Tann (44) continues its expansion drive in Asia, with the firm entering the Thailand table in seventh. Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) is also a new entrant with 30 lawyers.

Despite uncertainties over a slowdown in growth in Asia, Vietnam has made sev-eral changes to its legal and regulatory landscape in the hopes of encouraging investment and M&A activity in the region. Vision & Associates remains in the top spot in Vietnam, with 79 lawyers – 16 more than in 2014. VILAF (56) and YKVN (55) hold on to the #2 and #3 places, respectively, while LNT & Partners (42) jumps up three spots to #4. This year, ALB has extended the table from 10 to 15 firms, resulting in a number of new entrants, including PBC Partners & RHTLaw (22).

2015RANK


OF LAWYERS*

1 +1 Tilleke & Gibbins 17 84 101

2 -1 Siam Premier International Law Office 22 76 98


4 +3 Weerawong C&P 11 52 63

5 -1 Siam City Law Offices 10 47 57

6 = LS Horizon Limited 10 40 53

7 NEW Rajah & Tann 13 31 44

8 = DLA Piper 8 33 41

9 = Chandler & Thong-ek Law Offices 11 26 40

10 NEW Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) 6 24 30

THAILAND2015


OF LAWYERS*

1 = Vision & Associates 15 64 79

2 = VILAF 12 44 56

3 = YKVN 9 46 55

4 +3 LNT & Partners 8 34 42


6 = Bizlink Lawyers & Consultants 6 20 36

7 +3 Indochine Counsel 2 25 30

8 NEW Tilleke & Gibbins 2 26 28

9 -1 S&B LAW 7 20 27

10 -1 LuatViet Advocates & Solicitors 5 20 25

11= NEW PBC Partners & RHTLaw 5 17 22

11= -7 Phuoc & Partners 5 15 22

13 NEW Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers 6 14 20

14 NEW Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 2 14 18

15 NEW Bizconsult Law 7 10 17

VIETNAM

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