Pacific law firms are on a tear. Since 2011, the 50 largest firms based in the Asia-Pacific region have raised their lawyer numbers by 65 percent, to 41,255 lawyers, according to the latest data from The Asia 100 survey. That rate far outpaces the head count growth seen in The Global 100 in the same period (14 percent) or in The Am Law 100 (8 percent).
Some of the increase in Asia-Pacific head count in recent years stems from cross-border mergers with already-sizeable international firms. For instance, the number two firm on our list last year, Dacheng, took the top spot this time after its history-making tie-up with global giant Dentons boosted the combined firm’s head count from 3,700 to 6,568. But organic growth and smaller, regional acquisitions are also part of the story, especially for Chinese firms. Six Chinese firms—Yingke Law Firm, Zhong Lun Law Firm, AllBright Law Offices, DeHeng Law Offices, King & Capital and Beijing DHH Law Firm—managed to double their size since 2011 without a major merger.
