BCLP

BCLP (Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner) is a large transatlantic law firm formed in 2018 from the merger of US firm Bryan Cave and City stalwart Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP).

The transatlantic tie-up expanded the firm’s global reach and bundled together complementary strengths to create a firm with combined revenues of over $900 million.

Berwin Leighton Paisner had a solid reputation in the City - BCLP is still considered a member of the Silver Circle today - and brought its market-leading real estate and infrastructure practices to  the table, having been a prominent player in the UK legal market since its inception in 1970. Bryan Cave, meanwhile, brought serious corporate and litigation clout from its St. Louis roots (founded in 1873).

BLP was also something of a trailblazer in the field of so-called "alternative legal services” - offering legal support services to in-house teams outside of a traditional law firm setup.

The firm did this through its ‘Lawyers on Demand (LoD)’ unit launched in 2007 offering clients a flexible staffing model, providing them with access to lawyers on an interim or project basis without the need for a permanent hire or a traditional secondment. BCLP sold the business to private equity shortly after the merger in 2018.

Today, BCLP boasts an impressive international offering with a strong US focus, employing over 1,200 lawyers and operating from 31 offices across the US (where it counts 20 offices), Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It also still has two offices outside London in the UK, one in Manchester and the other in Southampton.

While BCLP is a full service firm, it is best known for its top-tier real estate practice which is still its strongest suit. Other departments like corporate and litigation are solid, but occasionally overshadowed by bigger transatlantic or City rivals.

Unfortunately for BCLP, the jury’s still out on whether its 2018 merger was a success, with revenue and headcount trending downwards almost yearly since the combination.

Other things to know

Financial Struggles: It’s fair to say that BCLP has hit a bit of a rocky patch in recent years compared to City rivals. The 2022 accounts for its UK arm revealed a 63% fall in profits to £29 million, an 11% drop in revenue to £204m and a 20% cut to its fee-earner headcount in the year. The firm also announced two rounds of job cuts in the space of a year - one in May 2023 and another in March 2024.

Low Trainee Retention Rates: BCLP’s financial difficulties have been reflected in some underwhelming trainee retention rates. In March 2024, the firm retained only 29% of its qualifying trainees - a significant drop compared to industry standards. While its September 2024 cohort showed some improvement with a retention rate of 58%, this remains below the levels expected of a major City law firm.

What is BCLP known for?

BCLP is a full service corporate law firm. It is best known for its expertise in the following practice areas:

Real Estate: Strong across the board on all real estate matters - contentious and non-contentious, the firm boasts one of the City’s best real estate practices. It is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers for both real estate litigation and high-value real estate transactions.

Corporate/M&A: BCLP has a well-regarded corporate practice for mid-market deals. It has a Band 3 ranking by Chambers for mid-market work.

Litigation: BCLP is strong in litigation, including high-value commercial disputes and banking litigation. It is ranked in Band 3 by Chambers for banking litigation, and Band 4 for commercial disputes.

What's Chambers?

We use Chambers rankings to demonstrate a firm's strengths. Chambers is the most highly-regarded provider of law firm rankings in the legal industry. Law firms are ranked in bands from 1 (highest) to 6 (lowest) across a range of practice areas.

It's important to note that being ranked in any band at all is still considered a significant achievement.

Who does BCLP compete with?

BCLP looks to establish itself as a transatlantic powerhouse alongside the likes of Hogan Lovells and Norton Rose Fulbright, while competing with mid-market City rivals like Eversheds Sutherland and CMS.

BCLP is the 13th biggest law firm in the UK by revenue. In 2024, its revenue was $860 million.

In 2024, its profit per equity partner (PEP) was $1.1 million.

How much does a partner at BCLP make?

In 2024, BCLP’s average profit per equity partner (PEP) was $1.1 million.

This is the total amount of profit available for distribution among equity partners, divided by the number of equity partners at the firm.

This represents the average amount that equity partners are entitled to. Some will receive significantly more, some less. It depends on the firm’s profit-sharing formula and each partner’s seniority.

How many trainees does BCLP take?

BCLP takes on 32 trainees each year in London.

Trainees complete four seats in different departments, each lasting six months.