Ashurst eyes top spot among Australia's 'Big Six' elite law firms
Ashurst is aiming to get in front of local competitors for the first time with a focus on ESG, cybersecurity, the energy transition and corporate M&A.
Among Australia's illustrious, so-called 'Big Six' law firms, there's keen rivalry for top place.
Whether you measure that on earnings, headcount, or the calibre clients on the roster is, of course, pretty subjective. For his part, Ashurst global chief executive officer Paul Jenkins has a clear idea of what will help the firm realise its ambition to be the "leading law firm" in Australia by 2027.
"How will we know when we get there? We will measure it in the eyes of our clients. It's not about size, headcount or revenue alone, it's about being perceived by our clients as the market leader in the areas in which we operate. And we have made significant progress in 2023," Jenkins told a media roundtable in Sydney on Tuesday.
When measured by lawyer headcount, HWL Ebsworth sits at the top of Australian law firms, but it is outside the 'Big Six' grouping of Allens, Ashurst, Clayton Utz, Herbert Smith Freehills, King & Wood Mallesons and Minter Ellison.
