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Baker McKenzie

Unverified

Chicago, IL

About

Baker McKenzie is the original global law firm, and no competitor has matched its geographic reach. With approximately 4,450 attorneys across 71 offices in 46 countries, Baker McKenzie is the largest US-based law firm by headcount and one of the most globally integrated legal platforms in existence. Founded in Chicago in 1949, the firm was built from day one on the idea that legal practice should cross borders.

Baker McKenzie earned the highest number of rankings in the 2025 edition of Chambers Global, spanning 322 practice areas across jurisdictions. The firm holds Band 1 global rankings in tax, technology and telecoms, employment, intellectual property, and real estate. Its cross-border M&A, trade and commerce, and dispute resolution practices are equally formidable. For students who want international exposure, this firm delivers it at a scale nobody else can.

The culture at Baker McKenzie is defined by diversity, of nationality, language, and perspective. Attorneys hail from dozens of countries, and the firm actively supports global mobility and cross-office secondments. The collaborative, multicultural environment is a genuine differentiator, and the firm values cultural competence alongside legal excellence.

The summer program runs a free-market system with approximately 75 summers and a 2,000-hour billable target. PPP is approximately $2.5 million. Baker McKenzie recruits from top law schools nationwide, and candidates with language skills, international backgrounds, or demonstrated interest in cross-border practice have a meaningful advantage. If you want a career that takes you around the world, this is where to start.

Recruiting & Summer Program

Assignment System

Free Market

Summer Class Size

55 associates

Summer Offer Rate

95%

Billable Hours

2,000 hours

Practice Areas & Rankings

Source: Chambers USA 2026 Rankings

Practice AreaBandJurisdictions
Corporate / M&ABand 1Nationwide
Labor & EmploymentBand 1California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou, Illinois
Life Sciences / FDABand 1New Jersey
TaxBand 1Nationwide, California: Northern, New York
Commercial LitigationBand 2Florida
Corporate / M&ABand 2Illinois
EnvironmentalBand 2Illinois
FranchisingBand 2Nationwide
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 2Illinois
International ArbitrationBand 2Nationwide
Privacy / Data SecurityBand 2Nationwide
Restructuring / BankruptcyBand 2Florida: South
TaxBand 2District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Texas
Technology TransactionsBand 2Nationwide, Illinois
Transportation: Aviation: RegulatoryBand 2Nationwide
Commercial LitigationBand 3Nationwide, California
Corporate / M&ABand 3California: Los Angeles & Surrounds
Government Regulatory / Public PolicyBand 3Nationwide
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 3New York
Labor & EmploymentBand 3Nationwide, New York
TaxBand 3California: Southern
White Collar DefenseBand 3Nationwide
Corporate / M&ABand 4California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou, New York
Food & Beverages: Regulatory & LitigationBand 4Nationwide
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 4Texas
Labor & EmploymentBand 4California
Project FinanceBand 4Nationwide
Real EstateBand 4Nationwide
RetailBand 4Nationwide
White Collar DefenseBand 4Illinois
AntitrustBand 5District of Columbia
Commercial LitigationBand 5Illinois, Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds
Life Sciences / FDABand 5Nationwide

Firm Profile

Vault Rank (2026)

#45

AmLaw Rank (FY2025)

#8

Founded

1949

Chair / Managing Partner

Sunny Mann

Partners

587

Attorneys

~4,450

Partnership Track

9 years

Billable Hours Target

2,000 hours

Summer Class Size (2025)

~60

Revenue (FY2025)

$3.6B

Revenue per Lawyer (FY2025)

$818K

1st-Year Total Comp (2026)

$245,000+

PPP (FY2025)

$2.4M

Offices (17 locations)

Chicago, IL(HQ)
New York, NY
Washington DC, DC
Houston, TX
Dallas, TX
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Palo Alto, CA
Miami, FL
London
Paris
Frankfurt
Hong Kong
Singapore
Tokyo
Dubai
Sydney
Visit firm website

Data sources: Financial data from AmLaw 200, FY2025. Practice area rankings from Chambers USA 2026. Summer program data from Chambers Associate 2026. Office locations from firm websites. Last verified: March 27, 2026. View our data methodology