Quinn Emanuel London Profits Soar
In a striking display of financial prowess, the London office of Quinn Emanuel has reported a staggering 47 percent surge in revenue for the 2023 financial year.
Quinn Emanuel – the ‘most feared in litigation’ law firm – has continued a stellar run of success with its London office, as well as its US offices.
The firm is a LawFuel list prestige firm, that suffered a major talent loss when three senior litigators headed to Wilkie Farr & Gallagher, but it finished 2022 with two fewer partners (at 24) than the previous year. But The firm’s London team expanded notably over the year, closing with 29 partners and 76 associates – an increase of three partners and 18 associates.
This development is reminiscent of a plot twist in a high-stakes legal drama, which saw the firm’s fee income soar to an impressive £196.6 million, up from £133.6 million, as detailed in LawFuel’s coverage on big law salary dynamics.
The robust increase in profit, which rocketed by 60 percent to £153.6 million, was bolstered significantly by what senior partner Richard East termed a “material” one-off success fee.
East, the founding force behind the London office, expressed immense pride in this achievement. “It’s a stunning feat for a disputes-only practice to near the £200 million revenue mark, especially considering our partner count in London,” he said.
But Quinn Emanuel’s success story isn’t just about the numbers. It’s a narrative of strategic growth and talent acquisition.
This growth trajectory and talent infusion have clearly paid dividends, reflected in the office’s profit margin leap to 78 percent, up from 71percent in 2022.
These figures mark a significant turnaround from the more moderate growth in 2022 and the flat revenue and 6 percent profit dip in 2021, which the firm attributed to increased costs from associate salaries, bonuses, and larger office spaces.
The high-profile exit of Boris Bronfentrinker, the former co-head of competition, to Willkie Farr in 2021, along with two other partners and a team of associates, had sparked rival predictions of a challenging phase for Quinn Emanuel. Bronfentrinker had been instrumental in building the firm’s esteemed competition litigation practice.
Contrary to these forecasts, Quinn Emanuel has rebounded with remarkable resilience, attracting top legal minds. Notable among these are Lambros Kilaniotis, formerly of RPC, and David Lancaster from Pinsent Masons, fortifying the firm’s London presence with a new contentious IP practice.
Quinn Emanuel’s London success underscores the dynamic nature of the legal industry, where strategic growth and expert talent management can yield spectacular results.
It’s a reminder that in the competitive world of big law, adaptability and strategic foresight are key to staying ahead – a narrative that LawFuel’s reporting on law firm salary trends and industry shifts continues to report upon.
