Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown is a global law firm, headquartered in Chicago but with a large international footprint.

Founded in 1881 in Chicago by Adolf Kraus and Levy Mayer, the firm started life as Kraus, Mayer & Brackett. After a few name changes, it settled on Mayer Brown & Platt. In 2002, it merged with London’s Rowe & Maw to become Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw. By 2007, it had streamlined the name to simply Mayer Brown.

While its heart is in Chicago, Mayer Brown has truly gone global. The firm made its first big splash internationally when it merged with City firm Rowe & Maw in 2002 - a move that made it the tenth biggest law firm in the world at the time.

In 2008, it expanded into Asia by joining forces with Hong Kong’s Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM). Though Mayer Brown and JSM parted ways in 2024 - part of Big Law’s mass exodus from China over government security measures and geopolitical tensions - Mayer Brown Hong Kong remains a key part of the firm’s footprint.

Today, Mayer Brown boasts nearly 1,900 lawyers globally, including more than 250 equity partners, across 27 offices across 27 cities across the US, South America, Asia Europe, and the Middle East, making it an international powerhouse.

The London office is particularly key, excelling in banking and finance, corporate and real estate.

While it doesn’t claim to be part of the upper echelon of “global elite” firms occupied by the likes of Latham and Skadden who boast much chunkier profits, it is considered a top-tier international outfit alongside transatlantic peers like Hogan Lovells, Reed Smith and Norton Rose Fulbright.

Other things to know

Famous Alumni: Germany’s latest chancellor Friedrich Merz is a former M&A lawyer at Mayer Brown - and highly rated too according to his profile on the firm’s website.

What is Mayer Brown known for?

Mayer Brown is a full service corporate law firm. In the UK market, it is probably best known for its expertise in the following areas:

Corporate/M&A: Mayer Brown has a strong M&A practice, known for its work on mid-market deals. It has a Band 3 ranking by Chambers for mid-market deals.

Capital Markets: Mayer Brown’s structured finance and securitisation practices in particular have long been regarded highly in the London market. Its securitisation practice holds a Band 3 ranking by Chambers, while its derivatives practice is ranked in Band 2.

Real Estate and Construction: Mayer Brown has a stand-out real estate practice, advising on the full spectrum of work including financing, construction and sales and purchases. Its real estate practice has a Band 1 ranking by Chambers.

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.

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Who does Mayer Brown compete with?

On the global stage, Mayer Brown competes with so-called "transatlantic" rivals, including Hogan Lovells, Reed Smith and Norton Rose Fulbright.

In 2023, Mayer Brown’s global revenue was $1.9 billion.

In 2023, Mayer Brown’s profit per equity partner (PEP) was $2.4 million.

How much does a partner at Mayer Brown make?

In 2023, Mayer Brown’s profit per equity partner (PEP) was $2.4 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 Mayer Brown take?

Mayer Brown typically takes around 15 trainees per year. Trainees complete four seats in different departments, each lasting six months.