After extensive discussions with strategy consultants and leaders at many of the worlds largest global law firms, we compiled a list of 13 criteria to help assess whether a firm is well integrated structurallyor not. (Vereins and verein-type firms appear in bold.)
| YES | DOES THE FIRM HAVE: | NO |
| Baker & McKenzie* Bird & Bird CMS Legal Clifford Chance DLA Piper Freshfields Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells Jones Day K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Norton Rose Reed Smith SNR Denton Squire Sanders White & Case |
A global name, logo, and brand that is identical in all jurisdictions (apart from those in which this is not permitted for regulatory reasons), and that is used on a common website and in all pitch/presentation documents? So, if the firm’s name is "X," it would be known as "X" globally, rather than having variants such as "X Australia" or "X International." | Mayer Brown** Orrick** |
| Baker & McKenzie* Bird & Bird CMS Legal Clifford Chance DLA Piper Freshfields Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells Jones Day K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Norton Rose Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton Squire Sanders White & Case |
A global management or executive body that is responsible for setting and implementing a single, unified firmwide strategy? | |
| Baker & McKenzie* Bird & Bird CMS Legal Clifford Chance Freshfields Jones Day K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Norton Rose Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton Squire Sanders White & Case |
A single set of global executive officers — including a chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief information officer, chief marketing officer, or any other similar post — who report to a single, global management body? | DLA Piper Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells |
| Baker & McKenzie* Bird & Bird CMS Legal Clifford Chance Freshfields Herbert Smith Jones Day K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Norton Rose Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton Squire Sanders White & Case |
A unified, global practice or industry group structure that has single heads for each group globally and that is subject to a global management body? | DLA Piper Hogan Lovells |
| Bird & Bird Clifford Chance Freshfields Herbert Smith Jones Day K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Orrick Reed Smith White & Case |
A single, global profit pool without regional profit centers? | Baker & McKenzie* CMS Legal DLA Piper Hogan Lovells Norton Rose SNR Denton Squire Sanders |
| Baker & McKenzie* Bird & Bird Clifford Chance DLA Piper Freshfields Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells Jones Day K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton White & Case |
A system by which all equity partners share the cost of any firm investment, such as the launching of new offices or the introduction of new technology, no matter where that investment takes place? The costs of opening a new office in France would be shared by all partners globally and not just those in Europe or the U.K., for example. | CMS Legal Squire Sanders Would not disclose: Norton Rose |
| Bird & Bird Clifford Chance Freshfields Hogan Lovells Jones Day K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton Squire Sanders White & Case |
A common partner compensation system that applies the same metrics to all equity partners in all offices and is controlled on a global basis by a single executive body? | Baker & McKenzie* CMS Legal DLA Piper Under Review: Herbert Smith Would not disclose: Norton Rose |
| Baker & McKenzie* Bird & Bird DLA Piper Hogan Lovells K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton Squire Sanders White & Case |
A metric within the firm’s partner compensation system by which equity partners are rewarded for sharing work and clients between offices and practice areas? | CMS Legal Clifford Chance Freshfields Jones Day Under Review: Herbert Smith Would not disclose: Norton Rose |
| Bird & Bird Clifford Chance Freshfields Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells Jones Day K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton Squire Sanders White & Case |
A common, global approach to lateral hires, the promotion of new partners, and the review of existing partners’ performances across all offices, with each of these processes managed at a global level? | Baker & McKenzie* CMS Legal DLA Piper Would not disclose: Norton Rose |
| Baker & McKenzie* Bird & Bird Clifford Chance Freshfields Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton White & Case |
A system by which all equity partners share the same voting rights on all firm issues globally – including the promotion of new partners? | CMS Legal DLA Piper Squire Sanders N/A: Jones Day Would not disclose: Mayer Brown Norton Rose |
| Baker & McKenzie* Bird & Bird CMS Legal Clifford Chance DLA Piper Freshfields Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells Jones Day K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Norton Rose Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton Squire Sanders White & Case |
A single conflict-checking system that is used without exception by all offices and for all matters globally, and that sees any conflicts managed at a firmwide, rather than regional, level? This applies to both legal and business conflicts. | |
| Baker & McKenzie* Bird & Bird CMS Legal Clifford Chance DLA Piper Freshfields Hogan Lovells Jones Day K&L Gates Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton Squire Sanders White & Case |
Common information technology and back- office support systems that are used by all offices firmwide and that do not have internal firewalls between offices or partnerships? | In Transition: Herbert Smith Squire Sanders Would not disclose Norton Rose |
| Baker & McKenzie* Bird & Bird CMS Legal Clifford Chance DLA Piper Freshfields Herbert Smith Hogan Lovells Latham Linklaters Mayer Brown Norton Rose Orrick Reed Smith SNR Denton Squire Sanders White & Case |
A single, global key-client program that is followed by all offices firmwide? | Jones Day K&L Gates |
*Baker & McKenzie declined to participate in the survey. Answers provided in confidence by current and former partners.
**Orrick operates as "Orrick Rambaud Martel" in Paris; Mayer Brown operates as "Mayer Brown JSM" in Asia (and "JSM" in China).
