Get a Position at Baker McKenzie: A Comprehensive Guide to the Firm

Summary

Baker McKenzie is a leading global law firm that specializes in providing comprehensive legal services to corporations, governments, and individuals at the local and international levels. Founded in 1949, Baker McKenzie operates in 77 offices in 47 countries and employs more than 5,000 lawyers. Baker McKenzie lawyers are experts in a broad range of legal disciplines, including corporate, dispute resolution, tax, antitrust, trade, and government regulation.


Baker McKenzie has a strong presence in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Baker McKenzie provides legal advice to clients in a diverse range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, energy and natural resources, technology, healthcare and life sciences, financial services, hospitality and leisure, and automotive and transportation. Baker McKenzie is also actively involved in providing legal advice and services to clients in emerging markets such as Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

The firm is known for its dedication to clients, effectiveness in the handling of complex legal matters, and stellar reputation. Baker McKenzie's commitment to clients is demonstrated in its global network of offices, its ability to attract and retain top talent, and its strong relationships with leading law firms, corporate counsel, and business executives.

Baker McKenzie's practice areas include corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution, tax and antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures and transactional work, government regulation and compliance, trade and investments, banking and finance, and labor and employment. Additionally, the firm's lawyers provide advice and legal services in areas such as intellectual property, real estate, compliance and investigations, telecommunications, energy and natural resources, defense industry and security, public policy, and public international law.

Baker McKenzie's commitment to corporate social responsibility includes the firm's participation in pro bono programs, commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, advocacy and representation of refugees, and sponsoring of legal education programs. The firm's global pro bono program enables the firm's lawyers to provide legal services to individuals and organizations in need of legal advice, assistance, and representation.

To assist in ensuring access to justice and the rule of law, Baker McKenzie also provides legal training, education, and mentoring programs to lawyers, firms, small business owners, and non-governmental organizations. The firm also participates in collective action initiatives that promote the rule of law and human rights in emerging markets.

Baker McKenzie is committed to providing the highest quality legal services and solutions to its clients. The firm's lawyers are highly experienced and knowledgeable in their respective practice areas, and their experience and knowledge ensure the firm's clients receive the best legal advice possible. The firm's commitment to excellence and integrity, combined with its global reach and international presence, make Baker McKenzie a viable option for corporations, governments, and individuals seeking legal advice and services.
 

About Baker McKenzie

Founded in 1949, Baker McKenzie is a leading global law firm with offices in 77 countries and over 6,000 lawyers and legal professionals. Recognized for its global reach, its client services and its commitment to diversity and social responsibility, the firm provides its clients with a comprehensive range of legal services to address their most complex legal needs.
 

Baker McKenzie Services

Baker McKenzie provides a comprehensive range of legal services in all of the major areas of business law, ranging from corporate and tax, to arbitration and dispute resolution, to labor and employment, to banking and finance, to intellectual property, to energy and natural resources, and to technology and communications. The firm regularly advises multinational corporations on cross-border disputes and transactions, as well as advises on local legal matters. It has experience in virtually all major industries, including automotive, aviation, chemicals, communications, energy and utilities, financial institutions, food and beverage, healthcare, insurance, life sciences, media and entertainment, real estate, retail, shipping and logistics, sport, travel and leisure, and technology.
 

Innovative Strategies

In its pursuit of excellence, Baker McKenzie is recognized for employing innovative strategies and providing cutting-edge legal services to its clients. It has been a leader in anticipating and adapting to the changing needs of its clients, responding to their needs wherever and whenever they need help. By staying ahead of the curve, Baker McKenzie has become a leader in the global legal market and a trusted advisor to its clients.
 

Global Impact

The firm continues to be at the forefront of global legal networks, hosting global conferences and events, and consistently ranked in the top tier of legal directories. It is dedicated to the advancement of human rights, advocating for the civil rights of underrepresented communities and providing access to justice to the underserved. Baker McKenzie has also been recognized for its pro bono commitments and corporate social responsibility. The firm is a signatory to the UN Global Compact Principles and has been a leader in the Women's Empowerment Principles since 2013.
 

Social Responsibility and Diversity

Baker McKenzie has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and is a signatory to the Legal Employers Diversity & Inclusion Charter. The firm has numerous initiatives and networks dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, including its Women's Initiative, which works to address gender imbalances in the legal industry, as well as its LGBT+ Ally Network, which works to create a more inclusive and diverse working environment. The firm is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, as well as promoting equal access to opportunity. The firm has established global centers of diversity and inclusion, which aim to develop and increase understanding of the issues that affect individuals and businesses around the world. A magnifying glass companion à la the Oxford English Dictionary would be required to read the names of the attorneys at Baker & McKenzie if they were to be listed here. With well over 3,000 attorneys and 5,000-plus more in support staff, Chicago-based Baker & McKenzie is far and away the largest law firm in the world. Crossing the 1,000 attorney mark 17 years ago, Baker has continued to lead the market, at least in terms of sheer numbers. Comparing Baker to other firms is akin to measuring a whale against a man. For example, Baker has more M&A lawyers than most mid-sized firms have total attorneys.

Considering the volume of the firm, Baker is relatively young. It traces its roots back only as far as 1949. However, it wasn't long before it started expanding on an international scale. Though many firms have overseas offices, there isn't one that can compete with Baker in terms of global scope. There are more offices around the world than there are teams in the NFL and the NBA combined. Though already a legal empire in the 1980s, the firm witnessed a startling growth at the end of the decade all the way through the 90s. In that time, the already sizable amount of attorneys tripled. Revenues of the firm now exceed $1 billion.

As with any large firm (even though in this respect there is no true peer), there is the question of quantity vs. quality. In the case of Baker, the firm surely does not rest its reputation on numbers alone. Baker has been recognized by a variety of publications and institutions for its fine work. Corporate Board Member counts Baker among the top 10 corporate firms. PLC Global Counsel recently named Baker the International law Firm of the Year and the Asia Pacific Law Firm of the Year. Baker's international achievements, particularly in Asia, set it apart from the pack. COO Craig Courter was recently singled out by Law Technology News as "IT Director of 2003." Baker's pro bono efforts have also been commended and garnered the firm numerous distinctions.

Baker has a practice encompassing a wide array of areas: banking, corporate, tax, real estate, litigation, intellectual property, project finance, antitrust, insurance, commercial, employment and communications. Not only does Baker excel in corporate work, but it does so on an international level that is unique to a firm of its size.

As might be expected of such a large firm, Baker requires its associates to be self-motivated and independent. Though some attorneys may view this as a drawback, the benefit is a good deal more individuality than other firms afford. However, Baker attorneys are not islands to themselves; they benefit from a massive network via that universal, inter-personal glue: the internet.

Be it Australia or China, Egypt or Brazil; chances are, if you're in a major city, there's a Baker & McKenzie office not too far from you. For attorneys looking to do sophisticated corporate work and benefit from the largest network of lawyers in the universe, then this several-member-Chicago-firm-turned-global-giant is the way to go.