Jones Day

Jones Day Profile & Stats

Jones Day is a true US heavyweight, with its sizeable glove taking jabs at most major areas of law. Armed with 2,500 lawyers and 35 offices across five continents, Jones Day is one of the largest law firms in the world and amongst the highest-grossing in the US.

Founded in 1893, by Judge Edwin Blandin and William Lowe Rice, Jones Day made its name by representing Midwestern manufacturers and transportation companies from its Cleveland base. It was one of the first firms to adopt a corporate management structure, and the 100+ years since have brought steady growth, a slew of domestic and international offices, and acclaim. The firm’s involvement in numerous high-profile political scraps helped cement its reputation, and in one example of its eminence, the firm represented US automaker Chrysler in its massive bankruptcy case.

In the UK, Jones Day burst onto the London legal scene in 1986, courtesy of a merger with Surrey & Morse. In 2003, the firm dramatically expanded its London presence through a merger with mid-tier City firm Gouldens. The firm’s London lawyers, of whom 98% are UK qualified, boast a globally recognised M&A practice. The firm also specialises in capital markets, private equity, banking and finance, business restructuring, investment funds, litigation, intellectual property, tax and real estate.

In real estate, where the old Gouldens was always a leader, the firm still acts for what was once that firm’s largest client, Pillar Properties (now part of British Land). The firm's private equity practice has won work from a number of major players, including Morgan Stanley, WL Ross & Co – one of the most profitable restructuring focussed PE houses in the US – and Riverside, the most active private equity house in the US.

Jones Day’s European network includes more than 400 lawyers working in Brussels, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Munich and Paris. The firm opened an office in Dubai in March 2009, serving clients on energy, finance, arbitration and M&A matters. Most recently, Jones Day established associate offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar in 2011 in association with Alsulaim Alawaji & Partners Law Firm, a Saudi practice established in 1990. Additionally, the firm opened a brand new Boston office in January 2011.

With China’s economy growing at a record pace, many global law firms are vying for a multiple presence in China – and Jones Day is no exception. The firm possesses one of the largest Asian practices of any full-service international firm, with more than 200 lawyers and offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo.

Jones Day has a bigger commitment to pro bono than most of its English counterparts. All Jones Day lawyers worldwide are encouraged to get involved and live up to the exemplary work of the US practice, and time spent on pro bono matters counts towards billable hours. In London, the firm acts for the Royal Academy of the Arts and has provided support to the Waterloo Legal Advice Centre for decades. Jones Day solicitors also work with the community by providing advice to small local charities and individuals who can’t afford legal representation.