Morgan Lewis
About
Morgan Lewis
Morgan Lewis is a Philadelphia-founded US law firm with more than 2,200 lawyers and legal professionals across more than 30 offices.
Founded in 1873, it has grown into one of the world’s largest firms by headcount and revenue, with a particularly broad mix of corporate, disputes, regulatory, employment and sector-focused practices.
Morgan Lewis expanded dramatically in 2014 when it brought in more than 220 partners and around 750 people from US firm Bingham McCutchen, which was on the brink of collapse and shut down just a few months later.
The firm established its London office in 1981, its first outside the US. London is a key hub for Morgan Lewis’s European and wider international transactional work. Its lawyers work closely with colleagues across Europe, the Middle East and the US.
The practice is broader than that of many US firms in London. Its best-ranked areas include investment funds, employment, IP, aviation finance, securitisation and insurance. The firm is also active in corporate/M&A, competition, life sciences regulation and investigations.
Morgan Lewis has continued investing in Europe. In 2025 it added a 54-lawyer team in Paris from Kramer Levin - before its merger with Herbert Smith Freehills - giving the firm a much larger French platform.
The firm generated $3.36 billion in revenue in 2025, according to The American Lawyer, making it the 11th largest US firm by revenue.
Recent work highlights
Recent deal and industry highlights for Morgan Lewis in London include:
Russian aviation insurance litigation: Morgan Lewis’s London disputes team has been acting for aircraft lessors pursuing claims against insurers over aircraft stranded in Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
McLaren F1 buyout: In 2025, Morgan Lewis advised New York investment firm MSP Sports Capital on the sale of its interest in McLaren’s Formula 1 racing team to Gulf investors, reportedly valuing the F1 team’s owner at around £3.5 billion.
Recent coverage
What is Morgan Lewis known for?
In the UK, Morgan Lewis is best known for investment funds, employment, corporate/M&A, specialist IP and aviation finance:
Investment funds
Morgan Lewis is known for its investor-side advice on commitments, co-investments and secondary transactions. Chambers ranks the firm Band 2 for investor representation and Band 3 for private equity secondaries.
Employment
The London employer practice advises companies on investigations, disputes, restructurings, senior exits and cross-border workforce issues. Chambers ranks the firm Band 4.
Intellectual property
Morgan Lewis has a substantial London IP practice spanning trade marks, designs and patent litigation. Chambers ranks the firm Band 6 for general IP, while individual lawyers hold stronger specialist rankings.
Corporate/M&A
The London team advises on public and private M&A across sectors including energy, investment management, life sciences and technology. Chambers ranks Morgan Lewis Band 5 for mid-market deals.
Aviation finance
The firm acts for lenders, lessors, investors and operators on aircraft financings and portfolio transactions. Chambers ranks Morgan Lewis Band 4 for aviation finance.
Financial performance
In 2025, Morgan Lewis's revenue was $3.36 billion, according to The American Lawyer.
London salaries
Here’s what Morgan Lewis pays its London trainees and newly qualified (NQ) lawyers:
Who does Morgan Lewis compete with?
In London, Morgan Lewis has a broad practice beyond pure transactional work compared to many US firms making it difficult to pinpoint competitors neatly. Within the funds space, its competitors are:
Trainee information
Other things to know
A major Paris expansion: Morgan Lewis hired 54 lawyers from Kramer Levin in 2025, before the fellow US firm went on to merger with City stalwart Herbert Smith Freehills.
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