The biggest law firms in Melbourne by headcount and revenue are the large national and international practices with major Collins Street, Bourke Street and Southbank offices: Allens, Ashurst, Clayton Utz, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, King & Wood Mallesons, Minter Ellison, Gilbert + Tobin, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Norton Rose Fulbright and Maddocks. Most of these firms are headquartered in Sydney or overseas, while Maddocks and Russell Kennedy are among the largest practices with Melbourne as their home base.
The largest firms operating in Melbourne
Exact Melbourne headcounts are rarely published, so size is best judged by national partner numbers, revenue and the scale of each Melbourne office. The firms below consistently rank at the top of Australian legal industry surveys and are active in the Melbourne market.
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: One of the largest firms in Australia, with a significant Melbourne office advising on mergers and acquisitions, banking, energy and disputes.
- King & Wood Mallesons: A major presence in Melbourne, with strengths in corporate, infrastructure, real estate and dispute resolution.
- Minter Ellison: A large national firm with one of its biggest offices in Melbourne, covering government, financial services and property work.
- Clayton Utz: A national partnership with a large Melbourne team in litigation, insurance, construction and employment law.
- Allens: Linked with Linklaters, with a substantial Melbourne office serving major corporate and government clients.
- Ashurst: A global firm with a growing Melbourne practice in finance, energy and employment.
- Corrs Chambers Westgarth: An Australian-owned firm with a strong Melbourne office in corporate, competition and projects work.
- Gilbert + Tobin: Known for technology, life sciences and capital markets work, with a Melbourne office that has expanded steadily.
- Norton Rose Fulbright: An international firm with a Melbourne team focused on financial services, energy and resources.
- Maddocks: Melbourne-founded and one of the largest firms based in the city, with deep experience in government, health, education and property law.
Large firms headquartered in Melbourne
Maddocks is the most prominent Melbourne-born firm at this scale. Russell Kennedy, Lander & Rogers and Holding Redlich also have Melbourne as a core base, with Holding Redlich and Lander & Rogers operating across several states. These firms often suit clients who want senior lawyer attention at lower rates than the global practices charge, particularly in government, health, insurance, aged care and not-for-profit work.
How size is measured
Firm size is commonly assessed by revenue, the number of partners, total lawyer headcount and the number of offices. A national firm may have a large Melbourne office while ranking lower locally than a Melbourne-based firm with a more concentrated team. Public sources such as the annual Law Council of Australia surveys, Australasian Lawyer rankings and the Australian Financial Review law firm league tables give the most reliable comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which law firm has the most lawyers in Melbourne?
Firms do not routinely publish office-level headcounts. Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, King & Wood Mallesons, Minter Ellison and Clayton Utz are generally regarded as having the largest Melbourne offices, with several hundred staff each.
Are the biggest law firms the best choice for every client?
No. Large firms are suited to complex corporate, government and cross-border matters. Individuals and small businesses often get better value and more direct access to senior lawyers from mid-tier or specialist practices, particularly in family, wills and estates, property and employment law.
Where are the biggest law firms located in Melbourne?
Most are concentrated in the CBD, along Collins Street, Bourke Street, Queen Street and Southbank. The legal precinct near the Supreme Court and County Court on William Street also hosts many practices.
