The region’s biggest law firms are expanding, according to data collected on Business in Vancouver’s Biggest Law Firms in Metro Vancouver list (page 12).
The average number of lawyers at the top 20 firms increased 9.2% to 81 in 2020, up from 74.2 in 2016.
The growth in the median number of lawyers at the top 20 firms outpaced the average growth, increasing 14.1% to 81 in 2020, up from 71 in 2016. This suggests that smaller firms lower on the list grew faster than their larger counterparts.
The data also finds that smaller law firms beat the larger firms in increasing both their number of lawyers and their overall staff.
Average staff numbers at the top 20 firms grew 6.4% to 194.2 in 2020, up from 182.4 in 2016. Median staff, however, soared by 16.6% to 197 in 2020, up from 169 in 2016.
No. 10 Harper Grey LLP recorded the largest one-year increase in lawyers, up 17.4% to 81 in 2020 from 69 in 2019.
No. 18 Stikeman Elliott LLP had the largest one-year increase in B.C. employees. Its staff grew 20.8% to 128 in 2020 compared with 106 in 2019, while having no increase in the number of lawyers it employs.
Of the top five law firms, No. 3 Lawson Lundell LLP had the largest five-year growth in both staff and lawyers. Its number of local lawyers increased 36.3% to 124 in 2020, up from 91 in 2016. Lawson’s staff rose 24% to 269 in 2020, up from 217 in 2016.
Most law firms on BIV’s list reported similar staff-to-lawyer ratios, with the average being 1.5 staff per lawyer.
Stikeman Elliot LLP has the highest number of staff per lawyer (1.91), while No. 4 Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP had the lowest ratio (0.9).
The region’s biggest law firms are expanding, according to data collected on Business in Vancouver’s Biggest Law Firms in Metro Vancouver list (page 12).
The average number of lawyers at the top 20 firms increased 9.2% to 81 in 2020, up from 74.2 in 2016.
The growth in the median number of lawyers at the top 20 firms outpaced the average growth, increasing 14.1% to 81 in 2020, up from 71 in 2016. This suggests that smaller firms lower on the list grew faster than their larger counterparts.
The data also finds that smaller law firms beat the larger firms in increasing both their number of lawyers and their overall staff.
Average staff numbers at the top 20 firms grew 6.4% to 194.2 in 2020, up from 182.4 in 2016. Median staff, however, soared by 16.6% to 197 in 2020, up from 169 in 2016.
No. 10 Harper Grey LLP recorded the largest one-year increase in lawyers, up 17.4% to 81 in 2020 from 69 in 2019.
No. 18 Stikeman Elliott LLP had the largest one-year increase in B.C. employees. Its staff grew 20.8% to 128 in 2020 compared with 106 in 2019, while having no increase in the number of lawyers it employs.
Of the top five law firms, No. 3 Lawson Lundell LLP had the largest five-year growth in both staff and lawyers. Its number of local lawyers increased 36.3% to 124 in 2020, up from 91 in 2016. Lawson’s staff rose 24% to 269 in 2020, up from 217 in 2016.
Most law firms on BIV’s list reported similar staff-to-lawyer ratios, with the average being 1.5 staff per lawyer.
Stikeman Elliot LLP has the highest number of staff per lawyer (1.91), while No. 4 Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP had the lowest ratio (0.9).
