DLA Piper
About
DLA Piper
DLA Piper is one of the world’s largest law firms.
It was formed through a series of mergers, with its origins tracing back to UK firms Dibb Lupton Broomhead and Alsop Wilkinson (founded way back in 1798) which merged in 1996 to create ‘DLA’ - then one of the UK’s biggest firms.
The firm as we know it today came about in 2005 after a transatlantic three-way merger of UK-based DLA and US firms Piper Rudnick and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich. This created one of the largest law firms in the world at the time and the largest firm in the UK.
The newly formed entity was initially named DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, which was shortened (thankfully) to DLA Piper in 2006.
Today, the firm employs around 4,500 lawyers across 90 offices in more than 40 countries, making it the sixth-largest law firm by headcount globally.
The firm’s vast global reach is only bettered by the likes of behemoths Dentons. Its offices span the US and Canada, South America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.
While that may sound like a trump card (it doesn’t exactly hold the firm back in the global revenue stakes), it’s both a strength and a challenge.
Much like rivals Dentons and Eversheds Sutherland, the firm's ‘everywhere’ strategy can sometimes dilute its impact - particularly in the prestige stakes - positioning the firm as a dominant mid-market player with the best global reach of any rival, but not necessarily as the go-to choice for top-tier advice in any one jurisdiction.
The UK remains a key market, with offices in seven cities: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Sheffield.
Still, despite its historic ties to the UK, DLA Piper is difficult to categorise - it’s not really British anymore. Until 2026, the firm operated as a Swiss Verein (same brand globally but no pooling of revenue or profits), maintaining two financially independent partnerships: DLA Piper International and DLA Piper US. The two entities now sit below a global holding company and share a unified profit pool.
Neither distinctly UK nor fully US in identity, DLA Piper is probably best described as ‘Anglo-American’ or ‘Transatlantic’. Whatever you call it, the model is most definitely working.
In 2024, DLA Piper became the first UK-founded law firm to pass £3 billion in annual revenue.
Recent work highlights
Recent deal and industry highlights for DLA Piper include:
Private Equity Investment in Grant Thornton: In December 2024, DLA Piper advised UK accountancy group Grant Thornton on the sale of a majority stake in the business to private equity firm Cinven. The deal marked the most significant private equity investment to date in the UK accounting sector.
Offer for FTSE-listed Music Business Hipgnosis: In April 2024, DLA Piper advised Apollo-backed Concord on the financing aspects of its takeover offer for FTSE-listed must rights business Hipgnosis for $1.4 billion. While the sale was agreed, Hipgnosis was ultimately sold to private equity rival Blackstone.
£1.15bn Sale of All3Media: In March 2024, DLA Piper advised Warner Bros Discovery and Liberty Global - owners of UK film and production company All3Media - on the sale of the company to Abu Dhabi-backed investment group RedBird IMI for £1.15 billion.
Recent coverage
What is DLA Piper known for?
DLA Piper is a full service corporate law firm, advising clients including companies, financial institutions, and public bodies across a broad range of practice areas.
Nationally, it has leading practices across most of the key regions in the UK. When it comes to City-focused work, its strongest practice areas include:
Corporate/M&A
DLA Piper has one of the UK’s leading M&A practices for mid-market deals, acting for companies across a range of sectors and bolstered by its extensive global footprint which helps it secure cross-border work. It is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers for mid-market M&A advice.
Private Equity
Similar to its conventional M&A practice, DLA Piper has a highly-regarded private equity practice - most noted for its work on mid-market deals. The firm acts for sponsors, portfolio companies and management teams through all stages of the private equity lifecycle. It has a Band 1 ranking by Chambers for mid-market buyout advice.
Energy, Resources, and Infrastructure
DLA Piper's energy and natural resources practice covers the full spectrum of legal needs in the industry, covering renewables, oil and gas, and mining. The firm’s infrastructure practice is also highly-regarded. The firm has a Band 2 ranking by Chambers for PFI/PPP work and rail infrastructure projects.
Real Estate
The firm is known for its strengths in real estate, advising clients across the full spectrum of real estate-related matters, from multimillion-pound portfolio and M&A transactions to the acquisition, financing, joint venture formation, leasing and sale of individual properties. It is ranked in Band 2 by Chambers for big-ticket real estate work.
Financial performance
DLA Piper is among the biggest law firms in the UK by revenue. For 2024, its global revenue was $4.2 billion.
For 2024, its profit per equity partner (PEP) was $3.4 million.
London salaries
Here’s what DLA Piper pays its London trainees and newly qualified (NQ) lawyers:
Who does DLA Piper compete with?
DLA Piper is regarded as a national powerhouse within the UK market, and a leading mid-market player on the global stage. It competes with the likes of:
Trainee information
Other things to know
Appointment of former Government Ministers: DLA Piper has built a high-profile public affairs practice, with a track record of recruiting senior former government figures. In recent years, the firm has brought in a string of ex-ministers, including former prime minister David Cameron, who joined as a consultant in June 2025. Earlier appointments include former UK home secretary David Blunkett to the government affairs team in March 2024, and former cabinet minister David Lidington, who joined the firm’s board as a non-executive director in 2023.
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