Acritas, now part of Thomson Reuters, announces the Asia Pacific Law Firm Brand Index 2020. This is Acritas’ first Index to be published which includes opinions since COVID-19 took hold across the world – and its impact on the results is clear. In what has been a tumultuous year for law firms, those who adapted by leveraging their key offerings for clients have been able to weather the storm.
King & Wood Mallesons and Baker McKenzie dominate the top of the Index, with just two points separating the law firms. These two powerhouses, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, have been able to draw on their own unique propositions and strategies to gain legal buyer trust, whether that’s through service quality, professional delivery or firm reputation. King & Wood Mallesons reigns supreme, with strong growth in top-level work consideration and overall usage.
Wang Junfeng, Global Chairman of King & Wood Mallesons commented; ‘At KWM we are building a top tier international law firm from Asia. Our clients continue to seek growth in international markets and our role is to leverage our unique platform and expertise to help them do business in the region and beyond. This means maintaining our commitment to quality and professionalism, while continuously evolving our offering through investing in talent and technology.’
This year the Index has also seen the importance of navigating international markets. David Johnson, UK Account Director at Thomson Reuters, elaborates; ‘As countries have had to close their borders and international travel ground to a stand-still, firms have really had to collaborate in new and innovative ways to provide a consistent service to clients. And the benefits are clear. Our recent Sharplegal research showed that when a single client uses five or more of a law firm’s offices, that law firm can expect to receive on average 33% more of the client’s legal spend.’
Looking at the rest of the table, Herbert Smith Freehills holds third position for the seventh consecutive year. Buyers are drawn to a combination of the firm’s high quality, technical excellence and a commitment to understanding clients’ business needs and pressures.
While COVID-19 has been hugely disruptive to operations, early signs are that the need for legal support within China is stronger than ever and set to increase. Unsurprisingly, therefore, China also plays a crucial role in shaping this year’s Index. One of the largest full service law firms in China, Zhong Lun has improved on last year’s incredible growth, to now sit in fourth position. The biggest mover in this year’s Index, Dentons, has climbed thirteen positions to fifth place, a move driven by significant increases in brand favorability and consideration for top-level work in China in the last 18 months.
Elsewhere, Kim & Chang holds sixth position for the third consecutive year, with JunHe, sitting in seventh. Allen & Overy have had a very strong year, moving up to eighth overall. This growth is underpinned by Hong Kong’s financial institutions. Mori Hamada places ninth, while the only other Magic Circle firm to sit in the top 10, Linklaters, has also seen good growth, and sits in tied tenth position along with Nishimura & Asahi.
- Unlock C-Suite Secrets at 2 AM – See How CIOAIM’s AI Coaches Are Revolutionizing Professional Decision-Making
When Executive Coaching Met AI: How One Platform Is Democratizing C-Suite Wisdom for Managers, Lawyers, and Entrepreneurs The story of how two… Read more: Unlock C-Suite Secrets at 2 AM – See How CIOAIM’s AI Coaches Are Revolutionizing Professional Decision-Making - From Small Town to Queenstown Chic – The Law-Firm Rebrand With Altitude
Todd Walker Branding Makeover John Bowie, LawFuel publisher Central Otago’s Todd Walker has decided it no longer wants to look like the… Read more: From Small Town to Queenstown Chic – The Law-Firm Rebrand With Altitude - Reddit Ranks Law Firms by How Cool They Sound (Spoiler: Most Don’t)
BigLaw’s Sonic Boom And The Definitive Ranking of Law Firm Names That Actually Slap Tom Borman, LawFuel writer Let’s be honest: when… Read more: Reddit Ranks Law Firms by How Cool They Sound (Spoiler: Most Don’t) - Private Equity Eyes Big Law And Top Firms Are Opening the Door
The Private Equity Law Firm Play Ben Thomson, LawFuel contributor Private equity is circling the legal sector, a new breed of law… Read more: Private Equity Eyes Big Law And Top Firms Are Opening the Door - From Tinder Swipes to AI Legal Wins
Remember swiping right on Tinder? Now imagine swiping through contracts at warp speed. That’s the magic LegalFly is bringing to the staid world of law, courtesy of a founding team that once powered the world’s hottest dating app with AI smarts. Fresh off a blockbuster €15 million Series A, this Belgian legal tech disruptor is gunning for America’s biggest law firms, and it’s not messing around. Register to read more . . - Boutique Torpedoes BigLaw Bonus Scale With US$172K Payou
The bonus wars were starting to look boring with the announced payouts we just reported, then a boutique firm waltzed in and lit a match under the whole market. According to Above the Law, Wilkinson Stekloff (the litigation boutique that basically runs on caffeine, confidence and extraordinary trial results) has thrown down year-end associate bonuses ranging from US$22,500 to US$172,500. – Read more on LawFuel . . - Hidden Hazards That Can Lead to Premises Liability Claims
Article source: JD Jordan, Personal Injury Law, IL Premises liability law holds that property owners and employers have a duty of care.… Read more: Hidden Hazards That Can Lead to Premises Liability Claims
