Baker McKenzie
UnverifiedChicago, 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 Area | Band | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate / M&A | Band 1 | Nationwide |
| Labor & Employment | Band 1 | California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou, Illinois |
| Life Sciences / FDA | Band 1 | New Jersey |
| Tax | Band 1 | Nationwide, California: Northern, New York |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 2 | Florida |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 2 | Illinois |
| Environmental | Band 2 | Illinois |
| Franchising | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Intellectual Property (General / Trademark) | Band 2 | Illinois |
| International Arbitration | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Privacy / Data Security | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Restructuring / Bankruptcy | Band 2 | Florida: South |
| Tax | Band 2 | District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Texas |
| Technology Transactions | Band 2 | Nationwide, Illinois |
| Transportation: Aviation: Regulatory | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 3 | Nationwide, California |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 3 | California: Los Angeles & Surrounds |
| Government Regulatory / Public Policy | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Intellectual Property (General / Trademark) | Band 3 | New York |
| Labor & Employment | Band 3 | Nationwide, New York |
| Tax | Band 3 | California: Southern |
| White Collar Defense | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 4 | California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou, New York |
| Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Intellectual Property (General / Trademark) | Band 4 | Texas |
| Labor & Employment | Band 4 | California |
| Project Finance | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Real Estate | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Retail | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| White Collar Defense | Band 4 | Illinois |
| Antitrust | Band 5 | District of Columbia |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 5 | Illinois, Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds |
| Life Sciences / FDA | Band 5 | Nationwide |
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)
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