Clifford Chance breaks £2 billion revenue threshold with eighth consecutive year of growth

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By Bradley Fountain-Green on

19

Average partner profits remain flat at £2 million amid significant “economic headwinds”

Clifford Chance’s London office

Magic Circle law firm Clifford Chance has breached the £2 billion revenue mark for the first time in its history.

The Canary Wharf giant generated £2.06 billion in global revenues for the financial year ending 30 April, a 5% uptick on the previous 12 months and marking an impressive eight years of consecutive of growth.

Reflecting on the firm’s financial performance, global managing partner Charles Adams said:

“Our team has delivered another strong set of results amid continued significant geopolitical and economic headwinds. These results reflect the strength and resilience of the firm’s global capabilities and diversified client base.”

Despite rising revenues, CC’s profit per equity partner (PEP) remained flat at £2 million amid what Adams described as “persisting challenges and uncertainties in the global economy”. Total partnership profit also remained in line with the previous year at £781 million.

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Increased revenue was thanks in part to an active tech sector and private capital fund raising, according to the firm, as well as significant growth across its global litigation, disputes, and regulatory practice groups.

As for its goals for the new financial year, CC said it is looking to strengthen global offerings in core areas such as technology transformation and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as focusing on strategic, client-led growth in the US, where they have recently opened a new office in Houston, Texas.

CC is now the second MC member to go public with its financial results, with Allen & Overy recently recording a 7% uptick in revenues to £2.1 billion. PEP fell to £1.82 million due to what the firm described as “challenging market conditions and a high inflationary environment”.

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19 Comments

Intellectual scholar

Would you pick CC over US firms?

MC Insider

For training, absolutely 100%.

Casual Observer

I think it is quite simplistic to suggest that training at the MC is ‘better’ than that at US firms. It will massively depend on the individual, their maturity, experience, and way of learning new things.

Training and professional development isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing!

V

if it’s established practice like Latham then yes, otherwise no

C

Beggars can’t be choosers

V

If I got a TC offer from CC but wanted to reject for a U.S. firm, that’s pretty stupid imo (bar Latham and Weil); training is much better

US NQ

That’s a grossly inaccurate statement. You get far better deal experience from day 1 working at any top US.

Anon

Nonsense. Training at MC and silver circle is far superior. Having trained at a SC now at a US firm the training and exposure doesn’t compare. Us associates don’t have time to properly train trainees

Realist

If you actually look at what happens with candidates who have offers from both, the general trend is massively in favour of US firms…

Anon

Yes, because of the money. If you look at what happens with those candidates most don’t actually last very long because of the culture/burn out.

Why

Weil…. Lol

Elite US

X2

F

Loool Weil are good for finance or PE as a trainee tho ..money ain’t too shabby either

Future US trainee

What about K&E?

Real realist

Yeah, because they are blinded by money which after tax is hardly any difference…you speak to partners and they’ll all say it’s better to train at a top UK city firm as opposed to US sweatshop

OK

5.5 to 7.5 monthly? OK!!

US associate

Bear in mind when those partners trained 🙂

There is no one rule when it comes to training. Each firm is different and it largely depends on the people doing the “training”. If you get a crap supervisor you can have a crap 6 months, regardless of where you train. If a partner/senior associate really takes you under their wing then you could have a brilliant training experience. There is no MC “standard” and same for US. You have to judge each firm individually, each department individually and, ultimately, each supervisor.

C

Looool this is funny. Compare the training between US firms and MC firms in real life and you’ll see.

Sometimes it’s just a trainee and partner on a deal at a US firm…

Spare

This explains why a US 1PQE = a MC counsel

Join the conversation

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