Quinn Emanuel
About
Quinn Emanuel
Quinn Emanuel (formally, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan) is a US law firm headquartered in Los Angeles.
The firm is widely considered a global litigation powerhouse - certainly one of the premier disputes firms - and has consistently been voted “the world’s most-feared law firm” (strictly in the legal disputes sense of course i.e. it's the firm no one wants to face in litigation).
Established in 1986 by John B. Quinn, Eric Emanuel, David Quinto and Phyllis Kupferstein, the disputes specialist has grown rapidly in its four-decade history.
Today, it claims the title of the largest litigation-only firm in the world, with more than 1,100 lawyers operating across 35 offices in the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Quinn Emanuel’s track record is impressive to say the least.
Known for its hard-nosed strategy and deep industry expertise, the firm boasts a win rate of 86% over more than 2,500 trials and arbitrations, winning a total of some $70 billion in settlements and awards for its clients.
And it’s not just clients who have reaped the rewards - profit margins at Quinn Emanuel have ranged between 60-80% in recent years, putting it among the most profitable law firms globally.
Quinn Emanuel’s London office has grown rapidly in both scale and reputation since its 2008 opening and has become one of the fiercest litigation shops this side of the Atlantic. Although the firm doesn't run a London training contract, it pays associates top-of-market rates, recently hiking its NQ salary to an eye-watering £189,000.
Growing from boutique to rubbing shoulders with rival market leaders in less than 20 years, it now employs over 120 lawyers, including around 30 partners.
The office has attracted some of the most sought-after litigation talent from top City firms, poaching for its own ranks names like Stephen Jagusch KC (from A&O), Ted Greeno (from Herbert Smith Freehills), and founding London partner Richard East (from Kirkland & Ellis).
Quinn Emanuel is often compared to other top-tier litigation firms like Kirkland, Paul Weiss and Skadden. However, its singular focus on disputes work leaves the firm uniquely placed in the global legal landscape.
Recent work highlights
Recent matter and industry highlights for Quinn Emanuel in London include:
Ukraine human rights win: In July 2025, Quinn Emanuel helped Ukraine win a landmark human rights case against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights.
Hyundai-Kia in ‘Dieselgate’ Scandal: Quinn Emanuel is defending Hyundai-Kia in group litigation arising out of the high-profile ‘Diselgate’ scandal. The car maker is alleged to have installed emissions-cheating software in their diesel vehicles. The case made The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20 cases of 2025’.
Thames Water £3bn Creditor Bailout: Quinn Emanuel represented the Class B creditors of the UK’s largest water provider Thames Water in opposing the company’s high-profile controversial £3bn creditor bailout in January 2025.
Recent coverage
What is Quinn Emanuel known for?
Quinn Emanuel is a disputes-only firm. In the UK market, it’s best known for its disputes work in the following areas:
Commercial Litigation
Quinn Emanuel is considered a go-to adviser for high stakes commercial litigation, with a focus on claimant work - particularly against banks and financial institutions (something many City firms can’t do over conflicts issues). The firm’s practice has a Band 2 ranking by Chambers.
Restructuring/Insolvency
Quinn Emanuel has one of the City’s leading practices for handling high-profile restructuring and insolvency disputes. The firm is ranked Band 1 by Chambers for restructuring and insolvency disputes.
International Arbitration
Quinn Emanuel has a highly regarded international arbitration practice, particularly known for handling high-value arbitrations across the construction, natural resources and infrastructure sectors. The firm has a Band 1 ranking by Chambers for commercial arbitration and a Band 1 ranking for investor-state arbitration.
Financial performance
In 2025, Quinn Emanuel’s global revenue was $2.8 billion, according to ALM / Law.com.
In 2025, its profit per equity partner (PEP) was $9.5 million.
London salaries
Here’s what Quinn Emanuel pays its London trainees and newly qualified (NQ) lawyers:
Who does Quinn Emanuel compete with?
In the UK market, Quinn Emanuel competes with the City’s other premier disputes firms, including:
Trainee information
Other things to know
Breaking £200m in London: Quinn Emanuel’s London office revenue reached £220 million in 2024 - a 12% jump on the previous year and the first time revenue has surpassed the £200 million mark.
Busy Founding Partner: Despite the pressures of running a world-leading law firm, John B. Quinn, founding partner of Quinn Emanuel, has his fair share of side hustles.
He runs a weekly legal podcast called ‘Law, Disrupted’, and owns a Michelin-starred sushi restaurant in downtown Los Angeles named Q Sushi. For over 30 years, he was also GC of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organisation behind the Oscars. Back in 2016, he was named the ‘Most Famous Practising Lawyer’ in the world by Bloomberg.
Quinn featured on The Non-Billable Podcast in 2025 where we discussed how he built the firm and got his views on the business of law more generally.
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