Linklaters
A London-headquartered international law firm and member of the Magic Circle.
Last updated October 27, 2026
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Overview
Linklaters LLP is a major international law firm headquartered in London. Founded in 1838, it developed from a nineteenth-century London practice into one of the firms commonly known as the Magic Circle, a group associated with high-value corporate, financial and cross-border legal work. The firm advises companies, financial institutions, investment funds, governments and public-sector bodies on transactions, disputes, regulation and strategic matters. Its principal practice areas include corporate and mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, capital markets, financial regulation, restructuring and insolvency, competition and antitrust, tax, litigation and arbitration, energy and infrastructure, technology and intellectual property, employment, real estate and projects. The firm is particularly associated with complex cross-border transactions and work involving heavily regulated industries, large financial institutions and multinational businesses. Linklaters expanded internationally through a combination of alliances, mergers, integrated practices and new offices. The 1998 Linklaters & Alliance network connected it with leading European firms, and during the following years Linklaters combined with or absorbed several alliance firms while opening offices in a range of European, Asian and South American markets. It shortened its name to Linklaters in 1999. Later arrangements included an integrated alliance with Australia’s Allens, an alliance with South Africa’s Webber Wentzel, relationships in India and Saudi Arabia, and a China-focused partnership with Zhao Sheng Law Firm. The firm has also adapted its international model to changing regulatory and commercial conditions. It created a merged Japanese practice in 2005 after regulatory changes allowed certain international firms to establish offices there. In 2007, its Central European offices in Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague were separated into Kinstellar. In 2021, Linklaters opened a Dublin office operating as Linklaters & Co, focused on European Union law rather than Irish domestic law. Linklaters is a partnership rather than a listed company and does not have publicly traded shares. The reference material describes a network of approximately 30 offices across more than 20 countries and about 3,100 lawyers. For financial year 2024–25, the firm reported revenue of £2.32 billion and average profit per equity partner of £2.2 million. These figures relate to that financial year and should not be treated as stock-market data. The firm has ranked strongly in several United Kingdom legal-market assessments, including corporate and M&A, capital markets, banking and finance, disputes, restructuring and insolvency, competition and tax. It was also ranked fourth in the 2021 Global Law Firm Brand Index. Beyond commercial performance, Linklaters has publicly addressed environmental issues and geopolitical risk. In 2021 it announced targets to reduce its own Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 70 percent and Scope 3 emissions by 50 percent by 2030. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it announced that it would end its business in Russia, becoming the first major international law firm reported in the reference material to make that commitment. Its present identity combines elite corporate and financial legal work with a broad international network and sector-focused advisory practices.
History
Linklaters traces its origins to London in 1838, when John Linklater entered into partnership with Julius Dods. The resulting practice, initially called Dods & Linklater, developed a corporate-law practice and advised on matters connected with the creation of the Metropolitan Water Board. Its early work helped establish the firm within the commercial legal environment of nineteenth-century London. On 4 May 1920, the firm, then known as Linklater & Co, merged with Paines Blythe & Huxtable. The combined practice became known as Linklaters & Paines. For much of the twentieth century it remained primarily a domestic corporate law firm, although it maintained a limited overseas presence. Its later international expansion reflected the increasing importance of cross-border finance, multinational corporate activity and European economic integration. A significant transformation began in 1998 with the formation of Linklaters & Alliance. The network connected Linklaters with prominent European firms, including De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in Amsterdam, De Bandt van Hecke Lagae in Brussels, Loesch & Wolter in Luxembourg, Lagerlöf & Leman in Stockholm and Oppenhoff & Rädler in Germany. During the next five years, Linklaters & Paines merged with several of these alliance firms and other practices in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. It also opened offices in numerous cities, including Amsterdam, Bangkok, Beijing, Budapest, Bucharest, Bratislava, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Rome, São Paulo and Shanghai. In 1999, the firm adopted the shorter name Linklaters. Regulatory change supported further expansion. On 1 April 2005, after Japan introduced rules permitting certain international firms to establish local offices, Linklaters created Japan’s first fully merged law firm practising Japanese, English and United States law. In 2007, its offices in Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague were spun off into Kinstellar, a separate firm whose name was formed as an anagram of Linklaters. The global credit crisis led to a period of restructuring. In 2008, Linklaters cut 270 London jobs, including approximately 120 lawyers and 150 other staff. The reductions were described as part of a plan to create a smaller and more profitable organisation. That year, the firm was reported to have the world’s highest gross revenue among law firms, supported by major matters including work for Lehman Brothers and a leading position by total deal value. Linklaters continued to broaden its international relationships during the following decade. In May 2012 it entered an integrated alliance with Australian firm Allens. Their relationship includes joint ventures in Asia focused on energy, resources and infrastructure, as well as Indonesia, where they work with Widyawan & Partners. In February 2013, Linklaters formed an alliance with South African firm Webber Wentzel. It also developed a best-friend relationship with India’s Talwar Thakore & Associates and, from 2017, operated in Saudi Arabia through an agreement with Zamakhchary & Co. In 2018, it partnered with Zhao Sheng Law Firm to support mainland-China-law work through operations in the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone and Beijing. In 2021, Linklaters established a Dublin office operating as Linklaters & Co. The office was designed to advise on European Union law and not Irish domestic law. The same year, the firm announced environmental objectives covering its operational and value-chain emissions. In 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Linklaters announced that it would end its business in Russia. By 2025, the firm was described as having approximately 30 offices in more than 20 countries and around 3,100 lawyers. Its modern practice combines a global network with specialist expertise in corporate transactions, financial services, capital markets, disputes, regulation, restructuring, competition, tax, energy and infrastructure.
- 2022
Russia business is ended
[1]Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the firm announces that it will end its business in Russia.
- 2021
Dublin office opens
[1]Linklaters opens a Dublin office, structured as Linklaters & Co and focused on EU law.
- 2013
Alliance with Webber Wentzel
[1]Linklaters enters an alliance with South African law firm Webber Wentzel.
- 2012
Integrated alliance with Allens
[1]Linklaters and Australian firm Allens establish an integrated alliance with joint ventures in Asian energy, resources, infrastructure and Indonesian work.
- 2008
London workforce reduction
[1]The firm cuts 270 London positions during the post-credit-crunch restructuring period.
- 2007
Central European offices become Kinstellar
[1]The Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague offices are separated into the independent firm Kinstellar.
- 2005
Merged Japanese practice is created
[1]Linklaters establishes a fully merged Japanese, English and United States law practice after Japanese regulatory changes.
- 1999
The firm adopts the Linklaters name
[1]During its international expansion, Linklaters & Paines shortens its name to Linklaters.
- 1998
Linklaters & Alliance is formed
[1]The firm creates a European alliance with several leading independent law firms as the foundation for broader international expansion.
- 1920
Merger with Paines Blythe & Huxtable
[1]Linklater & Co merges with Paines Blythe & Huxtable on 4 May, leading to the Linklaters & Paines name.
Products and positioning
Premium international law firm serving multinational corporations, financial institutions, investors and public-sector clients, with a particular emphasis on complex corporate and financial matters.
Legal advisory
Corporate and M&A
Linklaters advises corporations, private-equity sponsors, financial institutions and public bodies on domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, reorganisations and corporate governance. The practice is central to the firm’s international positioning and often works alongside competition, tax, financing, employment and regulatory specialists on complex transactions.
Legal advisory
Banking and finance
The banking and finance practice covers acquisition finance, leveraged finance, structured finance, derivatives, debt finance, project finance and financial-services regulation. It serves banks, borrowers, sponsors, investors and other institutions operating across multiple jurisdictions and regulated markets.
Legal advisory
Capital markets
Linklaters provides advice on equity and debt capital markets, securities offerings, listings, structured products and related disclosure and regulatory matters. Its work supports issuers, underwriters, investment banks and other market participants in major domestic and international transactions.
Legal advisory
Disputes and arbitration
The firm represents clients in commercial litigation, investigations, regulatory disputes and international arbitration. Its disputes work can involve cross-border contractual claims, shareholder matters, financial disputes and issues arising in heavily regulated sectors.
Legal advisory
Restructuring and insolvency
This practice advises companies, creditors, investors and insolvency professionals on financial distress, restructurings, insolvency proceedings, liability management and distressed transactions. It combines transactional, litigation and financial-regulatory capabilities for matters spanning several jurisdictions.
Sector and project advisory
Energy, infrastructure and projects
Linklaters advises on energy, natural resources, transport, utilities and infrastructure projects, including development, financing, acquisitions, joint ventures and regulatory issues. The firm’s alliances in Asia have included a specific focus on energy, resources and infrastructure services.
Controversies
2020
Linklaters announces race action plan
In October 2020, Linklaters acknowledged a lack of Black racial diversity and announced a race action plan. The plan included representation targets, training, and other measures intended to address the shortfall. The firm's announcement followed its recognition that Black representation within the organization was insufficient. The measures set out in the plan were presented as steps to improve racial diversity at the firm.
Marketing campaigns
- 20212030 emissions-reduction programme
Global
Linklaters announced goals to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 70 percent and its Scope 3 emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
Outcome. Targets announced; later achievement is not established by the supplied material.
Brand decisions
2022
End business in RussiaStrategyBackground
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 prompted international businesses and professional-services firms to reassess their Russian operations.
Action taken
Linklaters announced that it would end its business in Russia.
Aftermath
The decision marked a major geopolitical and operational change for the firm’s international network.
2021
Open a Dublin EU-law practiceStrategyBackground
The firm expanded its European offering while distinguishing EU-law advice from advice on Irish domestic law.
Action taken
Linklaters opened a Dublin office operating as Linklaters & Co.
Aftermath
The office provided EU-law advice from Ireland under a separate partnership structure.
2012
Enter integrated alliance with AllensM&ABackground
Linklaters sought to strengthen its coverage of Australia and Asia-Pacific transactions.
Action taken
The firm entered an integrated alliance with Australian law firm Allens, including joint ventures in Asian energy, resources, infrastructure and Indonesian work.
Aftermath
The relationship expanded the firms’ ability to coordinate cross-border legal services in Asia-Pacific markets.
2007
Separate Central European offices into KinstellarStrategyBackground
Linklaters reviewed the structure of its offices in Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague during a period of international network development.
Action taken
The four offices were spun off into a separate law firm named Kinstellar.
Aftermath
The Central European operations continued under a separate brand and partnership.
Recent events
Linklaters and Black Solicitors Network launch the Grassroots Programme[4]
Reported:
Linklaters partnered with the Black Solicitors Network to launch the Grassroots Programme, a programme supporting Black undergraduates at four universities in pursuing careers in law. It is scheduled to start in September 2021 and run for one academic year.
- Unconfirmed
Linklaters elects 35 new partners[5]
Reported:
Linklaters elected 35 partners worldwide, its highest number since 2007; women accounted for 40% of the promotions.
Linklaters announces race action plan[3]
Reported:
Linklaters acknowledged a lack of Black racial diversity and announced a race action plan with representation targets, training, and other measures.
Linklaters launches legal operations graduate scheme[6]
Reported:
Linklaters launched a two-year graduate scheme for legal operations roles, running alongside its training contract.
Sources6 sources
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