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BCLP

Unverified

St. Louis, MO

About

If you want a truly transatlantic law firm with equal strength in St. Louis and London, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) offers a platform unlike any other. Formed from the 2018 merger of St. Louis-based Bryan Cave and London-based Berwin Leighton Paisner, the firm has approximately 1,100 attorneys with a strategic focus on the U.S., U.K., Europe, and the Middle East, including new offices opened in Saudi Arabia in 2025. BCLP's deliberate transatlantic positioning sets it apart from firms that merely have overseas offices.

BCLP's real estate practice is a standout on both sides of the Atlantic, handling complex development, financing, and fund transactions for institutional investors and private equity firms. The firm has strong corporate, M&A, litigation, financial services, and data privacy practices, with particular depth in the middle market. BCLP is also an innovation leader, partnering with technology companies to deploy generative AI tools across its real estate practice, a signal of its commitment to modernizing legal service delivery.

The culture at BCLP is collaborative and internationally minded, with genuine cross-border staffing and mobility between U.S. and U.K. offices. The firm uses a free-market system, and summer associates can experience transatlantic deal work that most firms simply cannot offer. The St. Louis headquarters provides a collegial, lower-cost-of-living alternative to coastal markets.

For recruiting, express genuine interest in cross-border work and the firm's transatlantic model. BCLP values candidates who see the advantage of a firm strategically invested in the U.S.-U.K. corridor rather than trying to be everywhere. Real estate interest and international curiosity are strong signals.

Recruiting & Summer Program

Summer Class Size

25 associates

Billable Hours

1,900 hours

Practice Areas & Rankings

Source: Chambers USA 2026 Rankings

Practice AreaBandJurisdictions
AntitrustBand 1Georgia
Banking & FinanceBand 1Colorado
Commercial LitigationBand 1Missouri: Kansas City & Surrounds, Missouri: St Louis & Surrounds
Corporate / M&ABand 1Missouri: St Louis & Surrounds
EnvironmentalBand 1Missouri: St Louis & Surrounds, New York
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 1Arizona
TaxBand 1Missouri
Commercial LitigationBand 2Georgia, Missouri
Corporate / M&ABand 2Missouri: Kansas City & Surrounds
Energy / InfrastructureBand 2Colorado
Entertainment / Media / SportsBand 2Nationwide
EnvironmentalBand 2Illinois
Labor & EmploymentBand 2Illinois, Missouri: St Louis & Surrounds
Real EstateBand 2Missouri: Kansas City & Surrounds, Missouri: St Louis & Surrounds
Banking & FinanceBand 3Georgia
Commercial LitigationBand 3Nationwide, Colorado, Washington
Corporate / M&ABand 3Colorado, Georgia
FranchisingBand 3Nationwide
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 3Missouri
Privacy / Data SecurityBand 3Nationwide
Real EstateBand 3Colorado, New York
TaxBand 3Colorado
Commercial LitigationBand 4Arizona
Entertainment / Media / SportsBand 4California
EnvironmentalBand 4Nationwide
RetailBand 4Nationwide
Banking & FinanceBand 5North Carolina
Real EstateBand 5Nationwide

Firm Profile

Vault Rank (2026)

#99

Founded

2018

Chair / Managing Partner

Steve Baumer

Attorneys

~1,100

Partnership Track

8 years

Billable Hours Target

1,900 hours

Summer Class Size (2025)

~30

Revenue per Lawyer (FY2025)

$1.17M

1st-Year Total Comp (2026)

$200,000

Offices (11 locations)

St. Louis, MO(HQ)
Chicago, IL
San Francisco, CA
Kansas City, MO
Boulder, CO
Springfield, IL
Irvine, CA
Atlanta, GA
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Washington DC, DC
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