Dentons

Dentons is the world’s biggest law firm - by headcount at least - with over 12,000 lawyers spread across 200 offices in 80 countries. Concrete proof that not all good things come in small packages.

The firm’s origins date way back to 1788 with the founding of Denton Hall in London. Its modern incarnation came about in 2013 through a three-way merger between transatlantic firm SNR Denton (itself the successor to respected City outfit Denton Wilde Sapte), French firm Salans, and Canadian firm Fraser Milner Casgrain (FMC).

Operating under a Swiss verein structure, Dentons functions as a network of independent firms. This model has certainly driven rapid growth. Since 2013, it has merged with over 40 firms, making it one of the fastest-growing law firms in history.

The biggest shake-up came in 2015 with a blockbuster merger with Chinese giant Dacheng. The tie-up was short-lived unfortunately. In 2023, government-imposed security restrictions forced Dentons to split from its Chinese arm, nearly halving its lawyer count.

That didn’t slow Dentons down, however. The firm had already been expanding at pace and few firms can match its global footprint.

It has offices in nearly every major financial hub, from London to New York, Paris to Singapore. It was the first global law firm in Central America and has expanded in Korea, Africa and the Middle East.

The UK remains a key market. As you might expect, the London office is Dentons’ biggest in the UK. It also has a presence in Milton Keynes. In 2017, a merger with elite Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens expanded the firm into Scotland, adding offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Aside from its vast global footprint, Dentons is known for being a full-service powerhouse. It excels in corporate, energy, real estate, and disputes. Its unrivalled global network gives it a notable edge in cross-border work, much like similarly sized rivals DLA Piper and Eversheds Sutherland.

Other things to know

Regulator Victory: Dentons won a high-profile money laundering case brought by regulator the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in 2024. The SRA alleged Dentons failed to take adequate measures to establish the source of a politically exposed person’s (PEP) wealth when the firm acted for them. The tribunal dismissed all charges against Dentons and ordered the SRA to shoulder its own costs of £189,000.

Moving House: Dentons is gearing up for a big office move in London. In 2026, the firm will relocate to a brand new, state-of-the-art London office at One Liverpool Street.

What is Dentons known for?

Dentons is a full service corporate law firm that specialises in a broad range of practice areas. Clients include companies, financial institutions and public bodies. It’s particularly known for its strengths in the following areas:

Corporate/M&A: Dentons’ corporate practice is highly-regarded, particularly on mid-market deals. It regularly features in top adviser rankings by deal volume for mid-market deals. The practice holds a Band 2 ranking from Chambers.

Capital Markets: Dentons is strong for DCM, securitisation and derivatives work. The firm’s DCM practice has a Band 2 ranking from Chambers, while its derivatives practice is in Band 3.

Energy, Resources and Infrastructure: Arguably its strongest card, Dentons has one of the best projects practices of any UK firm, advising across development, financing, M&A, regulation and disputes. It has leading oil and gas and power practices, as well as a highly regarded infrastructure practice.

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 Dentons compete with?

Dentons is considered a leading mid-market firm with huge global reach. In the UK market, it competes with the likes of DLA Piper, CMS and Eversheds Sutherland.

In 2023/4, Denton’s global revenue was reported to be $2.72 billion. The firm’s revenue in the UK, Ireland and the Middle East was £280.5 million.

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How much does a partner at Dentons make?

Dentons does not publicly disclose its average profit per equity partner (PEP), however, it is understood to be around the £1 million  mark.

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.

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How many trainees does Dentons take?

Dentons takes on 25 trainees each year across the UK, with 14 in London, 3 in Milton Keynes, and 8 in Scotland, where trainees split their time between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

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