Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
About
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader was born on 1 July 2026 when global powerhouse Hogan Lovells merged with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, the oldest firm on Wall Street.
Hogan Lovells was itself formed by the 2010 transatlantic merger of US firm Hogan & Harth and UK firm Lovells, and was best known for its global scale and its expertise in highly regulated sectors, IP, corporate and disputes.
Both of its predecessor firms - Lovells and Hogan & Hartson - haD long histories dating back to the early 20th century.
Hogan & Hartson began its journey in 1904 in Washington, D.C., founded by Frank J. Hogan. Over the years, it grew into one of the largest law firms in the US, known for its litigation, regulatory and corporate practices.
Lovells was founded in London in 1899 and became recognised for its expertise in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and financial services. Lovells expanded internationally during the 2000s through mergers with several European firms.
The formation of Hogan Lovells marked a significant moment in the legal industry. At the time, Lovells was the sixth-biggest UK law firm, while Hogan & Hartson had revenues of $864.5 million. The merger was hailed as “the legal sector’s biggest” and a key test of whether a tie-up between a British and American law firm could succeed.
Since then, a string of tie-ups across the pond have ensued, including BCLP (Berwin Leighton Paisner and Bryan Cave) in 2018, A&O Shearman (Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling) in 2024, Winston & Strawn (Taylor Wessing and Winston & Strawn) in June 2026, Ashurst Perkins Coie (Ashurst and Perkins Coie) later that month and less than a week later, Hogan Lovells’ merger with Cadwalader on 1 July 2026.
That's right - the transatlantic firm transatlantically merged again. The union combined Hogan Lovells’ broad footprint with hundreds of years of Cadwalader's New York prestige and an elite capital markets and finance offering.
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader is now one of the largest law firms in the world - it has a combined revenue of around $3.6 billion, and is home to more than 3,200 lawyers and 900 partners across 18 countries in key markets from London, Washington D.C. and New York, across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and APAC.
Recent work highlights
Recent deal and industry highlights for Hogan Lovells Cadwalader include:
Unilever's Food Business Sale: In April 2026, Hogan Lovells advised McCormick on its US$44.8 billion acquisition of Unilever's food division.
IonQ's $1bn Acquisition of Oxford Ionics: In June 2025, Hogan Lovells advised British quantum computing startup Oxford Ionics on its $1.08bn acquisition by US-based IonQ.
US-Ukraine Minerals Deal: In May 2025, Hogan Lovells advised the Ukrainian government on its minerals agreement with the US. The deal sets up a joint fund giving the US preferential access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth.
£9bn Rolls Royce Contract: In January 2025, Hogan Lovells advised Rolls Royce Submarines on a £9 billion contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to power the next generations of nuclear submarines for the Royal Navy. The "Unity" deal is one of the largest ever signed by either Rolls Royce or the MoD.
Recent coverage
What is Hogan Lovells Cadwalader known for?
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader is a full-service law firm advising companies, financial institutions and governments across a wide range of practice areas. It’s particularly known for its work in the following areas:
Litigation and Disputes
The firm has a strong reputation in dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration, and investigations. Hogan Lovells was ranked in Band 1 by Chambers for commercial litigation. It also has a leading civil fraud practice.
Banking and Finance
Hogan Lovells has a strong finance practice that covers banking and finance, project finance, capital markets, and restructuring and insolvency. It is particularly known for its advice on mid-market deals where it had a Band 1 ranking by Chambers for its advice to lenders.
Regulation
Hogan Lovells has a very strong global regulation practice. It was ranked in Band 2 and Band 3 by Chambers for its contentious and non-contentious regulatory advice, respectively.
Corporate/M&A
Hogan Lovells has a highly-regarded corporate practice, advising clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures. It was ranked in Band 4 by Chambers for the highest-value M&A deals.
Intellectual Property
The firm's intellectual property practice spans all soft and hard facets of IP and is well-regarded across its global network. It is ranked in Band 2 by Chambers for both intellectual property and patent litigation.
Financial performance
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader ranks among the biggest law firms in the UK by revenue. Upon merging, its combined revenue was $3.6 billion.
In 2025, Hogan Lovells' profit per equity partner (PEP) was £2.6 million, and Cadwalader's was $3.47 million. Hogan Lovells had among the highest reported profit per equity partner of any UK law firm.
London salaries
Here’s what Hogan Lovells Cadwalader pays its London trainees and newly qualified (NQ) lawyers:
Who does Hogan Lovells Cadwalader compete with?
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader is considered to operate in the "upper mid-market", with a significant global footprint. Its main competitors include the likes of:
Trainee information
Other things to know
Merger with Cadwalader: In December 2025, Hogan Lovells and New York firm Cadwalader announced their intention to merge in a combination that will create a $3.6 billion global law firm and give Hogan Lovells a credible claim to a place among the industry’s global elite.
Office Closures: In September 2024, Hogan Lovells announced that it was withdrawing from Warsaw, Sydney and Johannesburg to focus on more important “strategic markets” including London, New York and California. A total of 123 lawyers and support staff were let go as part of the closures.
In-House Legal Tech Arm: Hogan Lovells has its own 100-person legal tech subsidiary called ELTEMATE which develops legal tech tools for use by the firm and its clients.
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