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Corporate Law Firms in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Dmitry Diment Dmitry Diment New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS OD4805

Revenue

$165.2bn

2024

$165.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

633k

Businesses

204k

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Corporate Law Firms in the US industry analysis

Corporate law firms have enjoyed revenue growth as strong corporate profit stimulated demand for almost all of the industry's services. The largest boon to corporate lawyers came in 2021 as the number of IPOs reached an all-time high. As drafting IPOs is one of the industry's largest revenue streams, this jump brought a surge in revenue. This revenue was especially helpful to make up for a dip the year before as COVID-19-related government assistance allowed struggling businesses to delay filing for bankruptcy, lessening demand for corporate lawyers. Despite some atypical volatility, industry-wide revenue is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 1.0% over the past five years and to total $165.4 billion in 2024, when revenue will rise an estimated 1.4%.

Strong corporate profit is the most important factor to the industry's success. Corporate profit skyrocketed following initial pandemic trough as prices, spending and production capacities all rose to meet pent-up demand. This new capital enabled major companies to acquire smaller competitors, leading to a surge in revenue for lawyers specializing in incorporation. With more flexibility in their margins, corporations were also able to invest more in research and development projects. This, in turn, boosted demand for corporate law firms to help protect intellectual property. While wages have been on the rise, revenue growth has helped law firms absorb these costs and keep profit high, especially for the nation's top firms.

Looking forward, corporate lawyers are expected to enjoy steady growth over the next five years. Corporate profit is expected to rise toward the end of the period as interest rates decline. The rollout of the 15.0% minimum corporate tax will encourage major companies to seek consulting services from corporate lawyers in order to comply while remaining efficient. Much of this demand will be met by in-house legal departments, though, which experts anticipate to become more prevalent. The range of corporate law firms' cyclical and countercyclical services will continue to make the industry especially resilient, and revenue is forecast to climb at a CAGR of 1.4% over the five years through 2029 to total $177.3 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Surging corporate profit has boosted demand for the industry. Heightened investment into acquisitions and research and development in the aftermath of the pandemic brought back a surge in revenue for corporate law firms.
  • General corporate law covers day-to-day business. The regularity and wide-ranging nature of services like antitrust, incorporation and securities law make it responsible for the bulk of revenue generated by corporate law firms.
  • Large corporate law firms seek cities. Many key clients are headquartered in major urban centers, so corporate lawyers with a New York or Chicago office can better secure the most lucrative contracts.
  • Large firms excel in cross-border law, leveraging their resources to meet fragmented demand. Lawyers must navigate state and municipal regulations, but firms with broad reach effectively serve interstate and international clients needing comprehensive support.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $165.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Post-pandemic growth has lifted the industry

  • Corporate profit skyrocketed in 2021, giving businesses across many industries the resources to buy out competitors and lifting demand for incorporation services provided by corporate lawyers.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Corporate Law Firms in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Strong corporate profit growth is set to keep revenue on the rise

  • Although growth rate won't match recent highs, corporate profit is anticipated to rise as the Federal Reserve continues to lower interest rates. This financial stability will empower businesses to explore mergers and acquisitions, driving demand for corporate law services. Strong profitability provides companies with the resources needed to engage in strategic expansions, restructuring and other complex transactions

Biggest companies in the Corporate Law Firms in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024
Profit ($short_0)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Corporate Law Firms in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including General corporate law, Insurance law and Intellectual property law. General corporate law is the largest segment of the Corporate Law Firms in the US.

Trends and Insights

Demand for general corporate law has been on the rise

  • Corporate lawyers primarily earn revenue through general corporate law, encompassing essential services like antitrust, incorporation, and securities law. Within this domain, they negotiate and review contracts, conduct due diligence investigations and defend corporations in litigation.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Firms in this industry specialize in commercial law related to mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings involving debt and equity markets and activities surrounding initial public offerings, as well as legal services associated with private equity transactions that include leveraged buyouts. Corporate law firms also provide services relating to commercial litigation, including intellectual property disputes.

What's included in this industry?

Providing legal services for corporations

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING (IPO)INSOLVENCYPRO BONO

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 54111 - Corporate Law Firms in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Surging corporate profit has boosted demand for the industry. Heightened investment into acquisitions and research and development in the aftermath of the pandemic brought ba...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

General corporate law covers day-to-day business. The regularity and wide-ranging nature of services like antitrust, incorporation and securities law make it responsible for ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Large corporate law firms seek cities. Many key clients are headquartered in major urban centers, so corporate lawyers with a New York or Chicago office can better secure the...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Large firms excel in cross-border law, leveraging their resources to meet fragmented demand. Lawyers must navigate state and municipal regulations, but firms with broad reach...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There are no major companies. While it's easy for high-profile firms to secure lucrative contracts with important clients, there are simply so many businesses in the US that ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Registration varies widely by state. Each jurisdiction sets its own rules for its legal system, and corporate lawyers in almost every state will need to complete law school a...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Labor costs are especially high. Skilled, well-educated lawyers are needed at every step of the process to understand complex legislation and offer consulting services to maj...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
    • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
    • Income Statement (2017-2022)
    • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
    • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
    • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry in United States in 2024?

    The market size of the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry in United States is $165.2bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry in 2024?

    There are 204k businesses in the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

    What does the Corporate Law Firms in the US in United States include?

    Providing legal services for corporations and are part of the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry.

    How competitive is the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry in United States?

    The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Corporate Law Firms in the US industry in United States.

    Related Industries

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    International industries

    View all industries in United States

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

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    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in the US include: 

    • US Census Bureau
    • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
    • US International Trade Commission

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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