Hogan Lovells

Hogan Lovells is one of the world’s largest international law firms. The firm was formed in 2010 through the merger of US firm Hogan & Hartson and UK firm Lovells.

The merger created a global law firm with a significant footprint in both the US and Europe.

Today the firm has more than 2,700 lawyers, including 800 partners, in over 47 offices across the world, and a dozen in the US alone.

It’s now the second-biggest UK law firm (ok, technically it’s ‘transatlantic’) with revenue of £2.158bn in 2023 and its profit per equity partner (PEP) is higher than any Magic Circle firm (except Slaughter and May’s based on best estimates as it’s not publicly disclosed) at a market-topping £2.2 million.

The firm is dual-headquartered in Washington D.C. and London and has a presence in all of the world’s key financial centres, including New York, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Both of its predecessor firms - Lovells and Hogan & Hartson - have long histories dating back to the early 20th century.

Hogan & Hartson began its journey in 1904 in Washington, D.C., founded by Frank J. Hogan. Over the years, it grew into one of the largest law firms in the US, known for its litigation, regulatory, and corporate practices.

Lovells was founded in London in 1899 and became recognised for its expertise in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and financial services. Lovells expanded internationally during the 2000s through mergers with several European firms.

The formation of Hogan Lovells marked a significant moment in the legal industry. At the time, Lovells was the sixth-biggest UK law firm, while Hogan & Hartson had revenues of $864.5 million. The merger was hailed as “the legal sector’s biggest” and a key test of whether a tie-up between a British and American law firm could succeed.

Since then the merged firm has gone from strength to strength and today Hogan Lovells is well and truly a global player.

Hogan Lovells is renowned for its strong reputation in corporate/M&A, banking and finance, litigation and arbitration, intellectual property, and regulation. The firm's global footprint helps it to handle complex, cross-border transactions and disputes.

Hogan Lovells makes our ranking of the UK's most prestigious law firms.

Other things to know

Best Law Firms for Pro Bono: In 2023, Hogan Lovells was named as one of the top 3 UK law firms for pro bono work by Law.com. The research focused on the total number of pro bono hours a firm worked, as well as the percentage of each firm’s total lawyer headcount working on pro bono matters.

Office Closures: In September 2024, Hogan Lovells announced that it was withdrawing from Warsaw, Sydney and Johannesburg to focus on more important “strategic markets” including London, New York and California. A total of 123 lawyers and support staff were let go as part of the closures.

What is Hogan Lovells known for?

Hogan Lovells is a full-service law firm advising companies, financial institutions and governments across a wide range of practice areas. It’s particularly known for its work in the following areas:

Litigation and Disputes: The firm has a strong reputation in dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration, and investigations, advising clients across the world often on multi-jurisdictional matters. Hogan Lovells is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers for ‘Commercial and Corporate Litigation’ and also for ‘Real Estate Litigation'. It also has a leading civil fraud practice.

Banking and Finance: Hogan Lovells has a strong finance practice that covers banking and finance, project finance, capital markets, and restructuring and insolvency. It is particularly known for its advice on mid-market deals. The firm has a Band 1 ranking by Chambers for its advice to lenders on mid-market deals.

Regulation: Hogan Lovells has a very strong global regulation practice. It is ranked in Band 2 and Band 3 by Chambers for its contentious and non-contentious regulatory advice, respectively.

Corporate/M&A: Hogan Lovells has a highly-regarded corporate practice, advising clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures. It is ranked in Band 4 by Chambers for ‘Corporate/M&A: £800m+’.

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 Hogan Lovells compete with?

Hogan Lovells is considered to operate in the 'upper mid-market', with a significant global footprint. Its main competitors include the likes of Norton Rose Fulbright, Herbert Smith Freehills and Ashurst.

Hogan Lovells is the 2nd biggest law firm in the UK by revenue. In 2023, its revenue was £2.158 billion. It was the first time its revenues have passed the £2 billion mark.

In 2023, its profit per equity partner (PEP) was £2,200,000. Hogan Lovells has the highest reported profit per equity partner of any UK law firm.

How much does a partner at Hogan Lovells make?

In 2023, Hogan Lovells’ average profit per equity partner (PEP) was £2,200,000.

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 Hogan Lovells take?

Hogan Lovells takes on around 50 trainees each year in the UK. This includes two trainees in the firm’s Birmingham office.

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