Baker McKenzie

Baker McKenzie is one of the world’s leading law firms, with 77 offices in 47 countries and more than 13,000 lawyers and other legal staff. Founded in 1949, the firm provides legal services to some of the world’s most successful multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments. Baker McKenzie's practice areas include corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution, real estate, international arbitration, and tax, among others. The firm also offers a range of consulting services, such as enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, and anti-corruption advice. Baker McKenzie is committed to providing its clients with the highest quality legal advice and representation.

The history of Baker McKenzie during the 20th century is one of the most impressive of any law firm in the world. Founded in Chicago in 1949, the firm has grown from a small, local practice to a global law firm with more than 4,800 lawyers in 77 offices in 47 countries.

The firm was founded by Russell Baker, who had practiced law in the Chicago area since 1929, and John McKenzie, a former IRS attorney. The firm quickly grew in the 1950s and 1960s, expanding to other cities in the United States and abroad. In 1961, the firm opened its first international office in Toronto. In 1975, the firm opened its first office in Asia, in Tokyo. This marked the beginning of an expansion that saw the firm open offices in major cities around the world over the next several decades.

In the 1980s, Baker McKenzie became the first U.S. law firm to open an office in Eastern Europe. The firm continued to expand its global presence in the 1990s, opening offices in South and Central America, Africa, and the Middle East. The firm also began to focus on providing legal advice and services to clients in the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors.

In 2000, the firm celebrated its 50th anniversary. The firm was ranked as the second-largest law firm in the world, with 2,852 lawyers in 42 countries. It was also one of the most profitable law firms in the world, with revenues that exceeded $1 billion in 2000.

In 2012, the firm opened its first office in Africa, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In 2013, the firm launched a Global Corporate Transactions Group, providing strategic and transactional advice to multinational companies.

In 2014, the firm launched a Global Restructuring Group, providing restructuring and insolvency advice to all stakeholders in distressed situations.

In 2015, the firm launched a Global Tax Practice, providing advice to multinationals on all aspects of international taxation.

In 2017, the firm launched a Global Real Estate Practice, providing advice to investors and occupiers on real estate transactions and projects around the world.

In 2018, the firm launched a Global Trade & Investment Practice, providing advice on international trade, investment and cross-border transactions.

In 2019, the firm launched a Global Digital Practice, providing advice on the legal implications of emerging digital technologies and services.

In 2020, the firm launched a Global Financial Services Practice, providing advice on financial regulation, transactions and disputes.

In 2021, the firm launched a Global Sustainability & Climate Change Practice, providing advice on sustainability, climate change and green finance.

In 2022, the firm opened its 77th office in Doha, Qatar.

Today, Baker McKenzie is one of the largest and most influential law firms in the world. It provides legal advice and services to a wide range of clients, from large multinational corporations to individual entrepreneurs. It is also a leader in legal services in the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors.

According to their website, their mission is as follows: “Baker McKenzie's mission is to provide our clients with the best legal advice and services in the world. We strive to be the preeminent global law firm, delivering quality and value to our clients. Our goal is to help clients succeed by understanding their objectives and providing them with the resources and insights they need to achieve their goals. We focus on providing innovative and effective legal solutions to clients across a broad range of industries and geographies. We achieve this by leveraging our deep understanding of local laws, cultures and markets, and our global platform, which allows us to access resources and expertise from across our global network. We are committed to delivering exceptional client service and strive to develop trusted relationships with our clients.”

According to their website, their vision is as follows: "We believe business must take a central role in fostering and championing sustainability. We are proud to leverage our talent, innovation and relationships to make a positive and sustainable societal impact for our clients, our people and the world. We are global citizens and recognize that the rule of law is an essential foundation for economic growth and development. Where the rule of law is strong, business leaders can feel optimistic about investing in the future.

Our Firm is therefore committed to the UN Global Compact, the Sustainable Development Goals and the UNGC's Ten Principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. Investments in these efforts is not only good business, but the right thing to do."

Baker McKenzie offers a wide range of legal services to its clients, including litigation and dispute resolution, corporate and M&A, tax, finance and banking, compliance and regulatory, labor and employment, intellectual property and technology, antitrust and competition, and many other areas. They have also developed a range of products and services to help clients navigate the complexities of the global legal environment, such as their Global Legal Services Platform and Global Technology Solutions Platform. These platforms provide access to a vast array of services, from document automation to legal research, from insight and analysis to due diligence. Additionally, Baker McKenzie provides a variety of legal training programs for its professionals, as well as support for international arbitration, dispute resolution, and legal process outsourcing.