Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance LLP is a multinational law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and a member of the "Magic Circle" of leading British law firms. It is one of the ten largest law firms in the world measured both by number of lawyers and revenue. In 2013/14 Clifford Chance had total revenues of £1.36 billion, the highest of any firm in the Magic Circle in that year, and profits per equity partner of £1.14 million.

Clifford Chance was formed in 1987 by the merger of two London-based law firms, Clifford Turner and Coward Chance. In 1999 it merged with the Frankfurt-based firm Pünder, Volhard, Weber & Axster and the New York-based firm Rogers & Wells.

History

Clifford Chance was formed by the merger of two London-based law firms. The first was Coward Chance, which derived from a firm established in 1802 by Anthony Brown, a fishmonger's son. Brown's firm became embroiled in the Panic of 1825, caused by speculation in South American investments, including the non-existent country of Poyais, invented by Scottish soldier Gregor MacGregor. One of the firm's longest clients was Cecil Rhodes. The firm advised him on his diamond mining business in South Africa, administered his estate after his death and helped set up the famous Rhodes Scholarships. Another client was Guglielmo Marconi. It also helped Midland Bank recover assets in Russia after the 1917 revolution, and advised the state government of Hyderabad on the preparation for Indian independence. The second firm was Clifford Turner, founded in 1900, with offices on Gresham Street, EC2. Its clients included Dunlop Rubber Company and Imperial Airways. In 1929, Clifford Turner advised and witnessed the creation of John Lewis Partnership. After the Second World War it advised the Labour government on the nationalisation of several privately owned industries. It opened offices in Paris in 1961, Amsterdam in 1972 and New York in 1986.