On our 60th anniversary we continue to embrace the qualities that have unified our vast organization from the start: passionately global and entrepreneurial thinking, pragmatism and innovation, friendship.
In 1949, Russell Baker and John McKenzie created what they envisioned to be the world’s first international law firm. While all other corporate law practices of the time kept to domestic concerns, we boldly advanced clients’ interests in markets overseas. Today over 80% of our 3,940 lawyers are based outside the United States — in Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe.
Believing that partnering with lawyers from diverse countries and cultures was key to becoming a firm without nationality, our founders sought to establish roots worldwide. Russell recruited 85 lawyers across 13 jurisdictions in just over 10 years. By 1987 we were the first partnership with 1000 lawyers. Now with 70 offices in 42 countries, we offer clients an instinctively global perspective and extraordinary fluency in local laws, legal systems, culture and business practices all over the world.
With the extensive knowledge and experience of a multi-talented global team, we were soon known for sounder and more efficient solutions. No other firm today can offer a more distinctive global platform of services. We have a larger base in key world financial centers, and ours is the only firm with over 125 lawyers each in New York, London, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Our client list is unmatched — more than 600 of them rank among the world’s largest public companies, including 84 of the top 100.
In keeping with Russell Baker’s bold vision and pioneering spirit, we continue to think of new and better ways to help clients navigate complexity with ease. Through the years we have won consistent recognition for our work in many areas of law, especially on groundbreaking matters in tax compliance, environment and climate change, antitrust and IP enforcement.
At 60 our global organization is one of the most successful models of a multinational operation — of the kind emulated by many of our clients. Guided by shared values and standards, our lawyers are collaborative equals who freely share knowledge, insights and best practices so they can deliver world-class advice in every instance.