Clyde & Co
| Company type | LLP |
|---|---|
| Industry | Legal services |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Founder | Richard Arthur Clyde |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
Area served | International |
Key people | James Burns (Senior Partner) |
| Products | Legal services |
Number of employees | 5000+ |
| Website | www |
Clyde & Co is an international law firm based in London, United Kingdom. It ranks among the top ten largest legal practices in the City of London and boasts the most extensive dispute resolution team of any UK-based law firm. The company employs approximately 2,600 lawyers and has a total workforce exceeding 5,000. For the fiscal year 2022–23, Clyde & Co reported revenues amounting to £788.6 million.
History
The origins of Clyde & Co trace back to 1933 when it was established by Scottish solicitor Richard Arthur Clyde, hailing from a distinguished legal lineage that included two Lords of the Court of Session. Records show Clyde practicing as a solicitor as early as 1928. He launched his practice on Lime Street within London’s insurance hub, rapidly attracting clients from Lloyd’s underwriters and various insurance firms. Shortly thereafter, he formed a partnership with Maurice Hill, who came from the founding family behind Liverpool’s Hill Dickinson solicitors.
Michael Payton joined the firm in 1966, rose to Senior Partner in 1984, and was appointed chairman in 2013. Following his tenure, James Burns took over as Senior Partner.
Expansion
Demonstrating its increasing global ambitions, Clyde & Co inaugurated its first international office in Hong Kong in 1981. It was also the pioneering international law firm to establish a presence in Libya after the Gaddafi era, opening an office in Tripoli in August 2012. More recently, offices have been launched in Sydney, Beijing, and Madrid. Today, Clyde & Co operates more than 60 offices spanning six continents.
In 2011, the firm completed mergers with Canadian firm Nicholl Paskell-Mede and UK-based Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG). The BLG merger was notable as the largest between two UK law firms at that time, with projected revenues surpassing £300 million. Further growth occurred in September 2015 through a merger with prominent Scottish firm Simpson & Marwick. In 2022, Clyde & Co announced a merger with UK firm BLM, creating a combined entity comprising 2,600 lawyers across 60 offices and generating annual revenue above £700 million, maintaining the Clyde & Co brand.
Controversy
In 2010, former partner Krista Bates revealed allegations of bribery and money laundering involving an African attorney connected to Clyde & Co in Tanzania. After being suspended and subsequently expelled in 2011, Bates pursued legal action seeking whistleblower protection. The firm contended that she was not an employee but a partner. In May 2014, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom determined that members of LLPs qualify as "workers" under whistleblowing legislation, thereby extending protection to Bates. Following these events, she assumed the role of general counsel at African airline Fastjet.
In September 2020, a $330 million account managed by Clyde & Co became subject to a US civil forfeiture case linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, involving allegations tied to an unsuccessful joint venture between Venezuela's PDVSA, 1MDB, and PetroSaudi.
Additionally, Clyde & Co provided legal representation for an offshore entity created by Russian oligarch Gennady Timchenko, known for his close ties to Vladimir Putin.
See also
External links
- Official website of Clyde & Co - Clyde & Co
- Articles with short description
- Law firms headquartered in London
- Law firms operating in Singapore
- International law firms with offices in the United States
- Law firms founded in 1933
- International law firms with offices in Hong Kong
- 1933 establishments in England
- Foreign law firms with offices in Hong Kong