Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance's story began with roots tracing back to the early 1800s in the City of London. However, the firm as it's known today was forged in 1987 through a landmark merger between two prominent UK firms, Coward Chance and Clifford Turner. This pivotal moment created what The Times of London dubbed "the country's first mega law firm," instantly doubling the size of the UK's then-largest law firm. From its inception, Clifford Chance adopted a forward-thinking, cross-border focus, a perspective that was not yet commonplace in the legal world. This international ambition fueled its expansion over the subsequent decades. The firm steadily grew, opening offices and cultivating client relationships across the globe, transforming from a firm of hundreds of lawyers to one employing thousands.

A significant milestone in its global journey was in 1992 when Clifford Chance became the first major non-US firm to practice US law, demonstrating its pioneering spirit. This was further solidified in 2000 through a transformative tripartite merger with Pünder Volhard Weber & Axster from Germany and Rogers & Wells from New York. This strategic move effectively created one of the world's first truly global law firms. Throughout its evolution, Clifford Chance has consistently been at the forefront of innovation within the legal sector, readily adopting new IT systems, sophisticated document management processes, and investing heavily in learning and development. The firm also recognized the efficiencies to be gained by establishing offshore support centers. Today, Clifford Chance stands as a legal behemoth with a significant global presence, boasting numerous offices across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and is recognized as a member of the prestigious "Magic Circle" of leading London-based multinational law firms. The firm continues to advise a diverse clientele, including corporations across various commercial and industrial sectors, financial investors, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations.