Skadden

Skadden (formally Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom) is a US law firm which today ranks as the fifth-largest law firm globally by revenue.

Originally founded in 1948 in New York, Skadden has evolved into a legal juggernaut and firmly part of the so-called ‘global elite’ of leading law firms - the select group of firms at the very top of the market globally known for their prestige, financial muscle and international reach.

Renowned for its pioneering work in M&A, restructuring and capital markets, by the 1980s it was firmly entrenched among the world’s top three revenue-generating law firms, a position it has rarely relinquished.

Fast forward to today, and the firm operates with over 1,700 lawyers across 21 offices spanning four continents, including Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

While Skadden is a powerhouse across numerous practice areas - notably, restructuring, capital markets, litigation, private equity and antitrust/competition - its M&A prowess is what sets it apart.

In 2024, Skadden was the second-biggest M&A dealmaker of any firm globally, advising on 211 deals worth a total of $422 billion during the year, trailing only Kirkland & Ellis who secured first place. Skadden jumped from fifth place in 2023.

Closer to home, Skadden’s London office is a key cog in the firm’s global machine.

Set up in 1988, the City outpost has steadily grown into a formidable player in its own right, handling high-stakes cross-border matters and working closely with the firm’s US and Asia teams. Its client roster features a who’s who of major companies, financial institutions and governments.

With almost 250 lawyers now based in London, Skadden has seen its UK ranks swell dramatically over the past five years. In fact, it has experienced the second-largest increase in lawyer count among the top international firms in London, behind only rival Kirkland.

The London partnership is equally robust, with around 34 partners, more than two-thirds of whom are regarded as leaders in their field by law firm rankings provider Chambers.

The office itself is housed in the iconic 22 Bishopsgate, the tallest office building in London.

Since late-2022, Skadden has occupied three floors of the 62-storey skyscraper, which is also home to fellow US firms Cooley, Covington & Burling and McDermott. The building's perks include a 20,000 sq ft food market, wellbeing retreat, London’s largest bicycle park (with more than 1,700 spaces) and even a ‘sky wall’ -  a climbing window on the 25th floor.