The Big Six law firms, was a term informally used in Australia to refer to the commercial law firms which, collectively, were the largest firms operating in Australia in terms of revenue and lawyers employed, and perceived to be the most prestigious before four merged or formed association relationships with firms from other countries, primarily the United Kingdom, in 2012.
Contents
Before 2012, the following firms were generally seen as composing the Big Six (listed alphabetically):
In 2012, three of these firms merged with overseas firms, and one other began operating in association with an overseas firm. As a consequence, it has proposed that the "Big Six" as a term is no longer applicable to the Australian legal profession, displaced by the concept of 'global elite' law firms or 'international business law firms'.
Developments since 2012
From 1 March 2012, Blake Dawson traded as "Ashurst Australia" until a full financial merger with Ashurst LLP on 1 November 2013; the full merger took place six months ahead of schedule.
Mallesons Stephen Jaques is currently trading as King & Wood Mallesons, after a merger and reorganisation with Chinese firm King & Wood, which has resulted in a Swiss association-structured association among what was the Australian and UK practice of Mallesons Stephen Jaques, a fully merged, combined Hong Kong practice, and a fully merged, combined mainland China practice consisting mainly of the existing King & Wood practice. In 2013, King & Wood Mallesons further merged with London-headquartered "Silver Circle" law firm SJ Berwin.
Allens Arthur Robinson changed its name to "Allens" on 1 May 2012, and began to operate in association with Magic Circle firm Linklaters. The association arrangements will see the firms operate with joint ventures in some parts of Asia, Allens practices merging into Linklaters practices in other parts, and the two firms operating jointly on certain matters.
Freehills merged with London-headquartered "Silver Circle" law firm Herbert Smith, effective from 1 October 2012. The full financial merger created a single, global firm called "Herbert Smith Freehills".
The expansion of other, non-"Big Six" law firms in Australia has also changed the professional landscape. For instance, national commercial law firm HWL Ebsworth expanded dramatically over the last decade and in 2016 the firm had over 205 partners and 10 national offices, making it the largest law firm (measured by number of partners) in Australia.
Size and ranking
The majority of the six firms were among the 100 largest law firms globally. In terms of revenue these are:
Several of these firms have also been leading firms in the Asia-Pacific region generally. In 2007, Allens Arthur Robinson, Clayton Utz, Freehills and Mallesons Stephen Jaques were the top five firms in the Asia Pacific region in mergers and acquisitions transactions, ranking above Magic Circle firm Linklaters.
The BRW lists these firms in its Top 500 Private Companies tables based on gross income.:
In the 2011/2012 Australian financial year, the law firms with the highest revenue were as follows:
Each year Business Review Weekly awards a law firm that delivers the best client service its Client Choice Award in the Best law firm, revenue over $200 million category. In 2012 that firm was King & Wood Mallesons: In 2013 the finalists for the award were (listed alphabetically):
Relationship with Magic Circle and Silver Circle
The Magic Circle and Silver Circle are groups of UK-headquartered law firms which are regarded as the first- and second-ranked groups of law firms respectively among UK-headquartered law firms in terms of perceived prestige and size. The London-headquartered Magic Circle firms with operations in Australia, Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy, are not considered to be part of the same group as the "Big Six".
Following the mergers and association arrangements announced in 2012 and 2013, Freehills and Blake Dawson have become parts of UK-headquartered Silver Circle firms, while Allens is now in an association arrangement with a Magic Circle law firm. Mallesons Stephen Jaques became part of the same Swiss association structure as a Silver Circle firm.
The term "big-six" is being borrowed to other contexts, including accounting and law firms in Hong Kong.