Clifford Chance US LLP
Clifford Chance US has approximately 3,750 attorneys across 32 offices. Founded in 1987.
$255,000+
Reported first-year compensation
54
Reporting year not confirmed; 96% reported offer rate
Not reported: partnership track, profits per partner, Am Law revenue.
2L Summer 2028 · Class of 2029Opening Soon
Law Clerk Program
Opens
Not announcedDeadline
Not announced
About Clifford Chance US
Clifford Chance is a Magic Circle firm with 3,700 attorneys globally, offering something no American firm can: a truly integrated international platform with the depth and prestige of a century-old London institution. The US operation provides a front-row seat to the most complex cross-border transactions and disputes in the world. As one of the five Magic Circle firms, Clifford Chance's global capital markets, banking and finance, and M&A practices are elite by any measure. The firm handles sovereign debt restructurings, multi-jurisdictional regulatory investigations, and cross-border M&A that most domestic firms simply cannot staff. With $3.0M in profits per partner globally, the firm's economics are strong, and the 2,000-hour billable requirement is standard. Clifford Chance's culture is international and cosmopolitan, attracting attorneys who are interested in working across borders and legal systems. Training is comprehensive and benefits from the firm's global knowledge-sharing infrastructure. The summer program of roughly 54 associates has
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a 96% offer rate, and summers report genuine international exposure and high-quality cross-border work. Clifford Chance's OCI process features a standard 20-minute screener with typical questions about why law school and why the firm. Callbacks involve conversations with partners and associates, and you should expect to hear back within a week. The critical differentiator is demonstrating genuine interest in international legal practice -- Clifford Chance is not the right firm for someone who wants to practice purely domestic US law. If you speak additional languages or have international experience, lead with those credentials.
Rankings
Latest published editions. Each links to its source.
Size and Standing
- Lawyers in 21 countriesGlobal 200, Lawyers in 21 countries: #12 (opens in a new tab)
- PrestigeVault Law 100, Prestige: #41 (opens in a new tab)
Associate Life
- Score 4.47 of 5Midlevel Associates Survey, Score 4.47 of 5: #8 (opens in a new tab)
- Best city resultMidlevel Survey, Houston, Best city result: #2 (opens in a new tab)
- Vault Best to Work For: #3 (opens in a new tab)
- VaultFirm Culture, Vault: #2 (opens in a new tab)
- VaultHours, Vault: #2 (opens in a new tab)
- VaultSatisfaction, Vault: #3 (opens in a new tab)
Pro Bono and Inclusion
Practice strength by market
Every band below appears on this firm’s Chambers USA 2026 profile, checked September 26, 2026. Where Chambers splits a table into The Elite and Highly Regarded, every Elite firm ranks above every Highly Regarded firm.
Scroll sideways to see recognition.
| Practice | Market | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
Projects: Agency Financing | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Transportation: Aviation: Finance | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Securitization: CLOs | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Capital Markets: Securitization: RMBS | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
REITs | Nationwide | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Technology & Outsourcing | District of Columbia | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Investment Funds: Investor Representation | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance | Nationwide | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government InvestigationsThe Elite | New York | Chambers Band3 Reported year: 2026 |
Antitrust | District of Columbia | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | New York | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) | Nationwide | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
International Trade: CFIUS Experts | Nationwide | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
Outsourcing | New York | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Equity: Fund Formation | Nationwide | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
Registered Funds | Nationwide | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
Tax | New York | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
Private Equity: Buyouts | New York | Chambers Band5 Reported year: 2026 |
Tax: Corporate & Finance | Nationwide | Chambers Band5 Reported year: 2026 |
Technology | New York | Chambers Band5 Reported year: 2026 |
Banking & Finance | New York | Chambers Band6 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate Crime & InvestigationsHighly Regarded | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic SanctionsHighly Regarded | Nationwide | Chambers Band1 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&AHighly Regarded | New York | Chambers Band2 Reported year: 2026 |
Corporate/M&AHighly Regarded | Nationwide | Chambers Band4 Reported year: 2026 |
25 reported ranking rows
Facts verified by BigLaw Bear, narrative by the firm. Figures carry a source link where we hold one; prose is Clifford Chance US’s own.
Firm highlights
- Revenue per lawyer
- $757
Summer program
Program structure
9 weeks in home office and 1 week abroad.
Program features
- Summer pay
- $255,000+First-year rate; summer pay is usually prorated from it
- Total summer associates
- 54Reporting year not confirmed
Schools Clifford Chance US Hires From
5 schools name Clifford Chance US on its own employer or placement pages. These lists are not exhaustive.