London-based law firm Linklaters posted strong financial gains across its global operations, with its U.S. business emerging as the standout performer.
The firm said profits in the United States jumped 39% during the financial year ended April 30, while global pre-tax profit climbed 11.6% to £1.2 billion ($1.61 billion). Revenue rose to £2.47 billion ($3.32 billion), and profit per equity partner increased to £2.48 million ($3.33 million).
The U.S. performance marked the sharpest growth among Linklaters’ main markets. Profit in Asia rose 36%, while Europe recorded a 10% increase and the U.K. saw growth of 7%.
The results highlight the continued push by major British law firms to expand their presence in the United States, the world’s largest legal services market. Linklaters said its U.S. revenue has doubled and profits have quadrupled over the past four years.
The firm is not currently pursuing a merger, its global chairman of corporate and Americas chairman George Casey said, following reports that Linklaters had held discussions with U.S. firm Cleary Gottlieb. Cleary has also said no merger was planned.
Cross-border combinations have remained a major feature of the legal industry. London-based Ashurst recently completed a merger with Seattle-founded Perkins Coie, while A&O Shearman continues to operate following its major transatlantic combination in 2024.
A&O Shearman recently reported pre-tax profit of $1.6 billion, while its revenue remained broadly unchanged at about $3.7 billion.
Linklaters is also expanding its focus on artificial intelligence. In May, the firm launched a new practice combining legal expertise with data science, reflecting the growing role of AI and technology in the legal sector.
