Big Six law firms (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Big Six law firms is a term informally used in Australia to refer to those firms which, collectively, are perceived to be the largest firms headquartered in Australia and distinguished in comparison to their other competitors. The following firms are usually seen as composing the "Big Six" (listed alphabetically):
The majority of the six firms are among the 100 largest law firms globally. In terms of revenue these are:
Several of these firms are also leading firms in the Asia Pacific region generally. In 2007, Allens Arthur Robinson, Clayton Utz, Freehills and Mallesons Stephen Jaques were the top five firms in the Asia Pacific region in mergers and acquisitions
transactions, ranking above Magic Circle
firm Linklaters
.
The BRW
lists these firms in its Top 500 Private Companies tables based on gross income.:
- Allens Arthur RobinsonAllens Arthur RobinsonAllens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.- Offices :...
- Blake DawsonBlake DawsonBlake Dawson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia it is considered one of the "Big Six" law firms.Blake Dawson was previously known as Blake Dawson Waldron or BDW...
- Clayton UtzClayton UtzClayton Utz is a leading commercial law firm in Australia. It is considered one of the Big Six commercial law firms.-Legal services:The firm provides legal services in banking and finance, capital markets and securities, competition, compliance, construction and projects, corporate / M&A,...
- FreehillsFreehillsFreehills is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia it is considered one of the 'Big Six' law firms.-Offices:Freehills has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane in Australia...
- Mallesons Stephen JaquesMallesons Stephen JaquesMallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. It is one of the 30 largest law firms in Australia, and is widely regarded as one of the top commercial law firms in Australia.-Offices:...
- Minter EllisonMinter EllisonMinter Ellison has been ranked the largest Australian-based international law firm . In Australia it is considered one of the Big Six law firms.-Offices:Minter Ellison has offices in 14 cities and five countries....
The majority of the six firms are among the 100 largest law firms globally. In terms of revenue these are:
| Firm | 2010 rank |
|---|---|
| Minter Ellison | 83 |
| Mallesons Stephen Jaques | 87 |
| Allens Arthur Robinson | 90 |
| Freehills | 91 |
| Clayton Utz | 97 |
Several of these firms are also leading firms in the Asia Pacific region generally. In 2007, Allens Arthur Robinson, Clayton Utz, Freehills and Mallesons Stephen Jaques were the top five firms in the Asia Pacific region in mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...
transactions, ranking above Magic Circle
Magic Circle (law)
The "Magic Circle" is an informal term used to collectively describe what are generally regarded to be the five leading UK-headquartered law firms and the four or five leading London-based commercial barristers' chambers.-Law firms:...
firm Linklaters
Linklaters
Linklaters LLP is a global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom and a member of the 'Magic Circle' of leading UK law firms. Linklaters is the world's fourth largest global law firm by revenue. In 2009/10 it received total revenues of £1.18 billion and profits per equity partner of £1.2...
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The BRW
Business Review Weekly
BRW is an Australian weekly business magazine published by the Fairfax Media group. It regularly compiles lists which rank corporations and individuals according to various criteria, similar to Fortune magazine in the United States.BRW provides news and commentary on the economy, business and...
lists these firms in its Top 500 Private Companies tables based on gross income.:
Related phrases
- Magic Circle (law)Magic Circle (law)The "Magic Circle" is an informal term used to collectively describe what are generally regarded to be the five leading UK-headquartered law firms and the four or five leading London-based commercial barristers' chambers.-Law firms:...
- five firms with headquarters in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
regarded as the leading firms in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. - Global Quartet or Big Four, referring to members of the Magic Circle other than Slaughter and May as it has, in general, not pursued a policy of expansion
- Golden Circle, a term used for example, by The EconomistThe EconomistThe Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, or Silver CircleSilver Circle (law)The Silver Circle is a term coined by The Lawyer magazine in 2005 to refer to a group of corporate law firms headquartered in London, United Kingdom which all fall outside of the Magic Circle and have a substantially lower turnover than the members of that group but have an average profit per...
coined by The LawyerThe LawyerThe Lawyer is a weekly British magazine for commercial lawyers and corporate directors, first published in 1981. It is owned by Centaur Media plc....
magazine in 2005 to describe mid-market or boutique law firms in the UK with profits per partner levels similar to those of the Magic Circle but being much smaller in terms of overall turnoverRevenueIn business, revenue is income that a company receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, revenue is referred to as turnover....
and numbers of lawyers - White shoe firmWhite shoe firmWhite shoe firm is a phrase used to describe the leading professional services firms in the United States, particularly firms that have been in existence for more than a century and represent Fortune 500 companies...
s or Charmed Circle, referring to law firms perceived to be the leading New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
law firms - Seven SistersSeven Sisters (law firms)The Seven Sisters refers to a collection of seven leading Canadian law firms with offices in Toronto. The term can be traced back to at least 2001, when it may have been coined by Sandra Rubin to describe the top seven Canadian law firms by mergers and acquisitions deal volume...
, referring to the seven Canadian law firms considered to be the top tier - Big FiveBig Five law firms (South Africa)The Big Five law firms is a term informally used in South Africa to refer to those law firms which, collectively, are perceived to be the largest firms based in South Africa....
, referring to the five largest law firms in (South Africa)