Freshfields
Freshfields is a London-headquartered multinational law firm and member of the Magic Circle. A London-founded international law firm advising companies, financial institutions, governments and investors on complex cross-border legal matters.
Last updated October 23, 2026
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Overview
Freshfields is a major international law firm headquartered in London, England. It advises corporations, financial institutions, governments and other public and private-sector clients on complex legal matters, including corporate transactions, finance, competition and antitrust, litigation and arbitration, tax, restructuring, employment, regulation, climate and sustainability issues, and major infrastructure and energy projects. The firm is commonly grouped with the United Kingdom's leading corporate law practices as a member of the Magic Circle. The firm's history is conventionally traced to 1743, when Samuel Dodd became attorney to the Bank of England. Its deeper institutional lineage reaches back to legal practices established in London during the early eighteenth century. Over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the practice operated under a succession of partner names, with the Freshfield family becoming its defining force after James William Freshfield joined in 1800. The last Freshfield-family partner retired in 1927, but the Freshfields name remained in use. The modern international firm was formed in 2000 through the combination of the established English practice Freshfields with Germany's Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund and the German-Austrian firm Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber. For much of the following period it used the name Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, often abbreviated to FBD. In 2024, the firm announced that its legal name would be shortened to Freshfields as part of a broader rebrand. Freshfields operates 33 offices in 17 jurisdictions across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Its international model is focused on cross-border matters rather than a consumer-facing product portfolio. The firm's work includes advising national and multinational companies, banks and other financial institutions, sovereign and public-sector bodies, and participants in regulated or highly complex industries. The practice is particularly associated with high-value transactions, sophisticated disputes, financial regulation, competition law and matters requiring coordination across multiple jurisdictions. The firm has also made high-profile changes in compensation and leadership. In 2019 it became the first non-US law firm reported to have raised newly qualified lawyer salaries in the United Kingdom to £100,000; the reported figure later rose to £125,000 in 2022 and £150,000 in 2024. Georgia Dawson was announced as senior partner in 2020 after leading the firm's Asia operations. In 2022, Freshfields appointed Jake Reynolds to lead Client Sustainability and Environment, reflecting the growing importance of energy transition, climate change, human rights, corporate governance and sustainable finance in legal and business advice. Freshfields has also faced scrutiny. German authorities investigated the firm's historical tax advice in connection with the cum-ex or phantom-trading scandal, including raids on its Frankfurt offices and criminal charges against former partners. The firm was questioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in 2019 over its review of UBS's handling of a rape complaint. In 2020, historical research highlighted links between James William Freshfield and slavery-era financial arrangements. These matters form part of the firm's public historical and reputational record. In 2024, senior partner Georgia Dawson indicated that the firm was considering further United States expansion, including possible locations in Texas and Boston. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is an international law firm headquartered in London. Its roots are commonly traced to a law practice established in London in 1743, making it one of the oldest firms in continuous operation in the world. The modern Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer name reflects the combination of the historic English firm Freshfields with the German firm Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber in 2000, followed by the integration of Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund, a German firm with a strong Brussels and European competition-law presence. The firm advises public and private companies, banks, private-equity sponsors, sovereign investors, governments and other institutions. Its work spans mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital markets, banking and finance, restructuring and insolvency, antitrust and competition law, international arbitration, commercial litigation, investigations, employment, tax, intellectual property, data and technology, and environmental, social and governance matters. A defining feature of the practice is its focus on matters that cross jurisdictions, regulatory systems and legal traditions rather than on routine domestic legal work. Freshfields has built a particularly strong profile in European and international transactions, complex disputes, competition investigations, financial regulation and investigations involving multinational businesses. Its lawyers regularly work through integrated multi-office teams, combining local-law capability with a coordinated international approach. The firm has maintained a substantial presence in Europe while also developing offices and practices in major financial and commercial centres in Asia, the Middle East and North America. The firm is organized as a limited liability partnership and is not a publicly traded company. Like other large global law firms, it operates through professional partnerships and offices rather than through a consumer-facing product portfolio. Its brand is associated with high-value, sophisticated legal advice, institutional clients and matters in which legal, regulatory, political and commercial issues overlap. Freshfields continues to present itself as a global firm serving clients across major economic regions. Its recent strategic emphasis has included cross-border transactions, disputes and investigations, technology-related legal issues, competition and regulatory work, and support for clients dealing with geopolitical and sustainability-related risks. Exact office counts, lawyer numbers and financial results can change by reporting period and are therefore not stated here without a dated source.
History
Freshfields traces its institutional history to an eighteenth-century London legal practice. The firm treats 1743 as a key foundation date because Samuel Dodd was appointed attorney to the Bank of England in that year. Earlier antecedents are also associated with Thomas Woodford, who began practising around 1716, followed by William Wall and then Dodd. This succession provides the basis for Freshfields' claim to one of the longest histories among major English law firms. The practice changed its name repeatedly as partners joined and departed. James William Freshfield became a partner in 1800, after Dodd's death, and the Freshfield family subsequently became central to the firm's identity. The practice was known as Freshfield & Son from 1825 and used the name Freshfields during several later periods. Other historical styles included Freshfields & Williams, Freshfields & Leese, and Freshfields, Leese & Munns. The final member of the Freshfield family to serve as a partner retired in 1927, although the family name continued as the firm's principal brand. The firm's later international identity was built through combination with German practices. Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber originated in Hamburg in 1840 and developed a German-Austrian practice. Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund was founded in 1962 by Arved Deringer and Claus Tessin and was based in Cologne from 1970. In 2000, both practices merged with Freshfields, creating Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The combination gave the English firm a broader continental European platform and established the modern multinational partnership. Following the merger, Freshfields expanded its international office network and developed a practice serving clients across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America. The firm became associated with the Magic Circle, the informal group of leading London-origin law firms. Its work has centred on high-value and technically demanding matters for national and multinational companies, financial institutions and governments. Unlike a product company, Freshfields delivers professional services through specialist legal teams and cross-border client relationships. The firm has adjusted its business and public identity in response to changes in the legal market. It raised newly qualified lawyer compensation in the United Kingdom in 2019, 2022 and 2024, reflecting competition for junior legal talent. In 2020, Georgia Dawson became senior partner after leading the Asia region. In 2022, the appointment of Jake Reynolds to lead Client Sustainability and Environment formalised an expanded focus on energy transition, human rights, climate change, corporate governance and sustainable finance. In 2024, Freshfields announced that it would shorten its legal name by removing Bruckhaus Deringer, retaining the more concise Freshfields brand. The firm's history also includes significant reputational controversies. German prosecutors investigated advice connected with the cum-ex or phantom-trading tax scandal, raiding the Frankfurt offices on two occasions from 2017 and bringing charges against former partners. In 2019, the Solicitors Regulation Authority questioned the firm about its review of UBS's handling of a rape complaint. Historical research published in 2020 also drew attention to James William Freshfield's financial links to slave owners and the Atlantic slave trade. In the 2020s, the firm continued to consider international growth, with Texas and Boston identified as possible United States expansion locations. Freshfields traces its origins to a London legal practice established in 1743. The early firm developed in the City of London, the centre of Britain’s commercial and financial activity, and over time became associated with advice to major businesses and financial institutions. Its long history includes the evolution of English commercial law and the expansion of legal services supporting international trade, finance and corporate activity. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the firm broadened beyond a traditional London practice. The growth of international commerce, European integration and multinational corporate ownership increased demand for coordinated advice across jurisdictions. Freshfields responded by developing a European and international network and by building practices in areas such as corporate transactions, finance, competition law, litigation and arbitration. The modern firm was formed in 2000 through the combination of Freshfields with the German firm Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber and the related integration of Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund. The transaction brought together Freshfields’ London and international platform with substantial German corporate, finance and competition-law capabilities. It also reinforced the firm’s presence in Brussels and its ability to handle European Union regulatory matters. Following the 2000 combination, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer continued to expand and coordinate its offices in major commercial centres. Its international practice has been particularly focused on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity, competition and regulatory investigations, international arbitration, complex commercial disputes, financial regulation, restructuring and corporate investigations. Rather than operating as a mass-market legal provider, the firm has concentrated on sophisticated institutional and corporate clients. The firm’s work has increasingly reflected the changing risk environment for multinational organizations. In addition to transactional advice, its practices address sanctions, compliance, data and technology, cybersecurity, supply-chain issues, climate and sustainability regulation, employment matters and investigations. These areas often require teams spanning several legal systems and disciplines. Freshfields is structured as a limited liability partnership and is managed as a professional partnership rather than a listed corporation. Leadership and governance are organized around the firm’s partners and global management bodies. Georgia Dawson became global managing partner in 2022. The firm remains active internationally, with its historical London base complemented by offices and practices serving clients in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America. Office locations, personnel and organizational details may change over time, so this dossier emphasizes the firm’s enduring history and service profile rather than unverified current headcount or revenue figures.
- 2024
The firm rebrands as Freshfields
[1]Freshfields announced that its legal name would drop Bruckhaus Deringer.
- 2022
Client Sustainability and Environment leadership created
[1]Jake Reynolds was appointed to lead the firm's sustainability and environment client work.
- 2022
Georgia Dawson becomes global managing partner
[3]Georgia Dawson assumed the firm's global managing partner role.
- 2020
Georgia Dawson becomes senior partner
[1]Dawson was announced as senior partner after leading the firm's Asia operations.
- 2019
United Kingdom newly qualified salaries reach £100,000
[1]Freshfields became the first non-US firm reported to set newly qualified United Kingdom lawyer salaries at this level.
- 2000
Freshfields merges with two German practices
[1]Freshfields combined with Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund and Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber to form the modern international firm.
- 2000
Formation of the modern Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
[2]Freshfields combined with Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber and integrated Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund, creating the modern international firm.
- 1962
Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund is founded
[1]Arved Deringer and Claus Tessin founded the German practice that later joined Freshfields.
- 1840
Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber traces its Hamburg origins
[1]The German practice that later became part of Freshfields originated in Hamburg.
- 1825
The practice becomes Freshfield & Son
[1]The firm adopted a name reflecting the continuing role of the Freshfield family.
Products and positioning
A premium, internationally integrated business law firm focused on complex cross-border transactions, disputes, regulation and strategic advice for companies, financial institutions and governments.
Transactional legal services
Corporate and M&A
Advice on mergers, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, corporate governance and other strategic transactions for companies, investors and financial institutions, often involving multiple jurisdictions. Advice on public and private mergers, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, carve-outs, takeovers, corporate governance and other strategic transactions for companies, investors and financial institutions, often involving multiple jurisdictions, complex corporate structures, regulated industries and significant antitrust or foreign-investment considerations.
Financial legal services
Banking, finance and capital markets
Legal advice for banks, funds, borrowers, issuers and other financial-market participants on financing structures, financial products, capital markets and related regulatory requirements. Advice to lenders, borrowers, issuers, underwriters, sponsors and financial institutions on banking, structured finance, debt and equity capital markets, derivatives, financial regulation and related transactions. Legal advice for banks, funds, borrowers, issuers, underwriters, sponsors and other financial-market participants on financing structures, financial products, banking, structured finance, debt and equity capital markets, derivatives, capital markets and related regulatory requirements.
Regulatory legal services
Competition and antitrust
Advice on merger control, cartel and abuse-of-dominance investigations, competition litigation and regulatory strategy across major markets. Competition-law advice covering merger control, cartels, abuse of dominance, state aid and subsidy issues, market investigations, litigation and regulatory investigations. The practice supports clients before national competition authorities and European institutions. Advice on merger control, cartel and abuse-of-dominance investigations, state aid and subsidy issues, market investigations, competition litigation and regulatory strategy across major markets, supporting clients before national competition authorities and European institutions.
Legal services
Dispute resolution
Representation in complex commercial litigation, international arbitration, investigations and other contentious matters before courts, tribunals and regulators. International commercial litigation, investor-state and commercial arbitration, class and collective claims, contentious regulatory matters and complex cross-border disputes. Teams may combine litigation, arbitration, industry and local-law specialists. Representation in complex commercial litigation, international arbitration, investor-state and commercial arbitration, class and collective claims, investigations and other contentious matters before courts, tribunals and regulators, often combining litigation, arbitration, industry and local-law specialists.
Legal services
Tax
Tax structuring, transactional tax, tax controversy and related advice for businesses and financial institutions operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Legal services · 2022
Sustainability and environment
Advice addressing energy transition, climate change, human rights, corporate governance and sustainable finance, reflecting the legal implications of environmental and social change.
Advisory and contentious legal services
Investigations and corporate crime
Internal investigations, regulatory enforcement response, compliance reviews, sanctions and anti-bribery work, whistleblowing matters and crisis advice for organizations facing allegations or scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions.
Controversies
2026
Freshfields email exchange about Middle Eastern investors disclosed internally
Freshfields global managing partner Alan Mason accidentally emailed an exchange to a large internal distribution list. In the exchange, co-head of US corporate and M&A Ethan Klingsberg suggested that the firm might seek sophisticated investors and said this "probably" ruled out Middle Eastern sovereign wealth money. Freshfields apologized for the comment and said it did not reflect the firm's position or beliefs.
2026
Freshfields apologises over comment in leaked email
Freshfields, a UK law firm, apologised after a comment about Middle Eastern sovereign wealth investors appeared in a leaked email chain. The firm issued the apology in response to the disclosure of the email content. The event was reported on 21 October 2026. No further details about the comment, the individuals involved, or any consequences were provided in the available information.
2020
Second former partner charged in cum-ex investigation
A second former partner was charged with allegedly aiding and abetting tax evasion related to the cum-ex scandal.
2020
Historical links to the Atlantic slave trade
Historical research identified financial links between James William Freshfield and slave owners, prompting scrutiny of the firm's historical legacy.
2019
SRA questioning over UBS rape-complaint review
The Solicitors Regulation Authority questioned Freshfields about its review of UBS's handling of a rape complaint.
2019
Former tax head charged in cum-ex case
Ulf Johannemann, the firm's former head of international tax, was arrested and charged with tax fraud in connection with the cum-ex investigation.
2017
German investigation into Freshfields advice in the cum-ex affair
German prosecutors investigated tax advice provided by Freshfields that was reportedly used to support the legality of cum-ex transactions. The firm's Frankfurt offices were raided during the broader investigation into phantom-trading arrangements.
Brand decisions
2024
Shortening of the firm's legal nameOtherBackground
Freshfields undertook a rebrand after operating for many years under the combined post-merger name.
Action taken
The firm announced that its legal name would drop Bruckhaus Deringer and become Freshfields.
Aftermath
The change aligned the formal name with the shorter brand already commonly used in the market.
2024
Potential expansion in Texas and BostonStrategyBackground
Senior partner Georgia Dawson indicated that the firm was examining further United States growth amid increased revenue.
Action taken
Texas and Boston were identified as possible locations for additional United States presence.
2022
Expansion of sustainability and environment client workStrategyBackground
Clients increasingly required advice on climate change, energy transition, human rights, governance and sustainable finance.
Action taken
The firm appointed Jake Reynolds as head of Client Sustainability and Environment.
Aftermath
The appointment formalised a dedicated leadership focus for sustainability-related legal and strategic advice.
2022
Appointment of a new global managing partnerStrategyBackground
The firm periodically refreshes its global leadership to coordinate its international offices, practices and client strategy.
Action taken
Georgia Dawson became global managing partner.
Aftermath
Dawson's leadership has been associated with continued emphasis on international client service and complex disputes, investigations and transactions.
2020
Georgia Dawson appointed senior partnerStrategyBackground
The firm selected a leader with experience running its Asia operations.
Action taken
Freshfields announced Dawson as its new senior partner.
Aftermath
The appointment placed international and Asia-Pacific experience at the centre of the firm's senior leadership.
2000
Cross-border merger creates Freshfields Bruckhaus DeringerM&ABackground
Freshfields sought to combine its United Kingdom practice with established German and German-Austrian firms.
Action taken
It merged with Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund and Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber.
Aftermath
The transaction created the modern multinational firm and broadened its continental European platform.
2000
Combination creating Freshfields Bruckhaus DeringerM&ABackground
The firms sought to combine a leading London and international practice with substantial German and European capabilities at a time when clients increasingly required coordinated cross-border legal advice.
Action taken
Freshfields combined with Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber and integrated Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund under the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer name.
Aftermath
The combination established the present international organization and strengthened its German, Brussels and broader European platform.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Freshfields apologises over comment in leaked email[6]
Reported:
Freshfields apologised for a comment about Middle Eastern sovereign wealth investors made in a leaked email chain.
- Unconfirmed
Freshfields email exchange about Middle Eastern investors disclosed internally[5]
Reported:
Freshfields global managing partner Alan Mason accidentally emailed an exchange to a large internal distribution list. In the exchange, co-head of US corporate and M&A Ethan Klingsberg suggested that the firm might seek sophisticated investors and said this “probably” ruled out Middle Eastern sovereign wealth money. Freshfields apologized for the comment and said it did not reflect the firm’s position or beliefs.
Google Cloud launches Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services and Legal[7]
Reported:
Google Cloud announced Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services and Gemini Enterprise for Legal, the first in a planned series of industry-specific solutions built on its Gemini Enterprise platform. The financial-services product includes a Google-managed Financial Research agent, more than 50 specialized skills and 13 data connectors to providers including FactSet, LSEG, Moody's and MSCI, with Deutsche Bank as a design partner and CME Group among early users. The legal product targets contract review, due diligence, regulatory monitoring, legal research and privacy requests, connecting with iManage, NetDocuments, RelativityOne, Thomson Reuters, Harvey and CourtListener, with law firms including Cleary, Freshfields, Weil and Williams & Connolly among launch customers.
Google launches Gemini Enterprise for Legal[8]
Reported:
Google expanded its Gemini Enterprise AI platform with Gemini Enterprise for Legal, a tool for lawyers and law firms that adds plugins integrating with legal software and data platforms and provides AI agents for specialized legal and administrative work.
Google launches Gemini Enterprise for Legal[9]
Reported:
Google expanded its Gemini Enterprise AI platform with Gemini Enterprise for Legal, a tool for lawyers and law firms that integrates with legal software and data platforms and includes AI agents for legal and administrative work. Google also announced related tools for the financial services industry and said law firms including Weil Gotshal, Cleary Gottlieb, Freshfields and Williams & Connolly took part in co-developing the product.
FBD appoints Tim Cullinan as independent director[10]
Reported:
FBD Holdings announced the appointment of Tim Cullinan as an additional independent non-executive director, effective immediately.
FBD appoints Paul D'Alton interim CEO[11]
Reported:
FBD Holdings announced that Paul D'Alton had been appointed interim chief executive officer, with his new role due to begin on April 3.
Sources11 sources
- 1Freshfieldsen.wikipedia.org
- 2Freshfields: Our historyfreshfields.com
- 3Freshfields: Leadershipfreshfields.com
- 4Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringeren.wikipedia.org
- 5Freshfields email exchange about Middle Eastern investors disclosed internallyefinancialcareers.com
- 6Freshfields apologises over comment in leaked emailafr.com
- 7谷歌云推出面向金融与法律行业的Gemini Enterprise解决方案techmoran.com
- 8谷歌推出 Gemini Enterprise for Legal163.com
- 9谷歌推出 Gemini Enterprise for Legalfinance.sina.com.cn
- 10FBD 任命 Tim Cullinan 为独立董事agriland.ie
- 11FBD任命Paul D'Alton为临时首席执行官rte.ie
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