The Big Six law firms, was a historical term used to refer to the six largest Australian law firms by revenue and head count before four merged or formed association relationships with firms from other countries in 2012. Before 2012, the following firms were generally seen as composing the Big Six :
In 2012, three of these firms merged with overseas firms, and one other began operating in association with an overseas firm. As a consequence, it has been proposed that the "Big Six" as a term is no longer applicable to the Australian legal profession and has been displaced by the concept of the 'global elite' law firms or 'international business law firms'.
Developments since 2012
From 1 March 2012, Blake Dawson traded as "Ashurst Australia" until a full financial merger with Ashurst LLP on 1 November 2013; the full merger took place six months ahead of schedule. Mallesons Stephen Jaques is currently trading as King & Wood Mallesons, after a merger and reorganisation with Chinese firm King & Wood, which has resulted in a Swiss association-structured association among what was the Australian and UK practice of Mallesons Stephen Jaques, a fully merged, combined Hong Kong practice, and a fully merged, combined mainland China practice consisting mainly of the existing King & Wood practice. In 2013, King & Wood Mallesons further merged with London-headquartered "Silver Circle" law firmSJ Berwin, although that practice ceased operations in 2017. Allens Arthur Robinson changed its name to "Allens" on 1 May 2012, and began to operate in association with Magic Circle firm Linklaters. The association arrangements will see the firms operate with joint ventures in some parts of Asia, Allens practices merging into Linklaters practices in other parts, and the two firms operating jointly on certain matters. Freehills merged with London-headquartered "Silver Circle" law firm Herbert Smith, effective from 1 October 2012. The full financial merger created a single, global firm called "Herbert Smith Freehills". The expansion of other, non-"Big Six" law firms in Australia has also changed the professional landscape. For instance, national commercial law firm HWL Ebsworth expanded dramatically over the last decade and in 2016 the firm had over 205 partners and 10 national offices, making it the largest law firm in Australia.
Several of these firms have also been leading firms in the Asia-Pacific region generally. In 2007, Allens Arthur Robinson, Clayton Utz, Freehills and Mallesons Stephen Jaques were the top five firms in the Asia Pacific region in mergers and acquisitions transactions, ranking above Magic Circle firm Linklaters. The BRW lists these firms in its Top 500 Private Companies tables based on gross income: In the 2011/2012 Australian financial year, the law firms with the highest revenue were as follows:
Until its closure, Business Review Weekly awarded its Client Choice Awards in the Best law firm, revenue over $200 million category to a law firm that delivers the best client service. In 2012 that firm was King & Wood Mallesons: In 2013 the finalists for the award were :
The Magic Circle is an informal term for UK-headquartered law firms with the largest revenues, the most international work and which consistently outperform the rest of the UK market on profitability. The Silver Circle is an informal term for perceived elite corporate law firms headquartered in the United Kingdom that are the main competitors for the magic circle. The London-headquartered Magic Circle firms with operations in Australia, Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy, are not considered to be part of the same group as the "Big Six". Following the mergers and association arrangements announced in 2012 and 2013, Freehills and Blake Dawson have become parts of UK-headquartered Silver Circle firms, while Allens is now in an association arrangement with a Magic Circle law firm. The term "big-six" is being borrowed to other contexts, including accounting and law firms in Hong Kong.
