Willkie
About
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Willkie is a New York-headquartered US law firm founded in 1888.
It has grown from a four-lawyer practice into an international firm with more than 1,300 lawyers across 16 offices in the US and Europe.
The firm opened in London in 1988, but its modern City profile has been shaped by a much more recent period of rapid expansion. Willkie’s London office now has more than 140 lawyers and over 40 partners, with the firm describing London as one of its key investment priorities.
Private capital increasingly sits at the centre of the London strategy. Willkie has built a significant private equity practice, particularly since hiring David Arnold and Gavin Gordon from Kirkland & Ellis in 2019, and has continued adding partners across private equity, finance and funds.
Alongside transactional work, it has also invested heavily in restructuring, competition litigation and investigations.
Insurance is another defining feature. Willkie has one of the strongest transactional insurance practices in the City, advising insurers, reinsurers and investors on M&A, regulatory matters and risk-transfer transactions.
The broader firm has been growing quickly too. Revenue has more than doubled since 2020 and reached $2.06 billion in 2025, while profit per equity partner rose to $4.96 million. London revenue grew 7.5% in 2025 to reach $173 million, and the office’s partner count has steadily increased over the past five years - in 2025, Willkie made up seven new partners in London which was the largest intake of any of its offices.
Recent work highlights
Recent deal and industry highlights for Willkie include:
$1.3 billion software deal: Willkie advised Bending Spoons on its proposed acquisition of Airtable in 2026. The all-cash deal values Airtable at $1.28 billion.
Apax investment: Willkie advised Apax Partners on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Sedex, the London-based supply-chain risk management platform, in a deal widely reported as valuing the business at more than £1 billion.
Landmark class action: Willkie represented Walter Merricks in Merricks v Mastercard, the first opt-out collective action to be certified under the UK’s collective proceedings regime. The nearly decade-long case was brought on behalf of around 46 million consumers and resulted in a £200 million settlement approved by the Competition Appeal Tribunal in 2025.
Recent coverage
What is Willkie known for in London?
In the UK, Willkie is best known for a mix of insurance, private capital and disputes work:
Insurance
Willkie has one of the City’s leading non-contentious insurance practices. Chambers ranks the firm Band 1, highlighting its Lloyd’s market expertise and work on insurance M&A, reinsurance and capital raising.
Private equity
Willkie has built a substantial London private equity practice advising sponsors on large buyouts and other investments. Chambers ranks the firm Band 4 for the biggest buyouts, while the firm has continued to hire aggressively in this area.
Restructuring
Willkie acts for creditors, debtors, sponsors and investors on complex restructurings and recapitalisations, often with cross-border or Chapter 11 elements. Chambers ranks its London restructuring team Band 4.
Competition
Willkie is particularly strong in private competition litigation. Chambers ranks the firm Band 2 for claimant-side work, with the team active on follow-on damages claims and collective proceedings.
Financial performance
In 2025, Willkie's revenue was $2.06 billion and its profit per equity partner was $4.96 million, according to The American Lawyer.
London salaries
Here’s what Willkie pays its London trainees and newly qualified (NQ) lawyers:
Who does Willkie compete with?
In London, Willkie competes with other US firms combining private equity, finance and restructuring strength.
Trainee information
Other things to know
A presidential name partner: Wendell Willkie was not one of the firm’s original founders, but he gave it its most famous name. A former Democrat and corporate executive who had never held public office, Willkie switched parties and became the Republican candidate for US president in 1940, losing to Franklin D. Roosevelt. He joined the firm as a partner the following year, then went on to serve as Roosevelt’s informal international envoy and write the bestselling book One World. Willkie died in 1944 aged just 52, after only three years at the firm.
Market-topping pay: Willkie joined just a handful of other US firms as the top-paying law firm in London for newly qualified lawyers in 2026, announcing it was raising its NQ rate to £180,000.
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