Top-Tier Law Firms in Australia
Updated 22 September 2026 · General information, not legal advice
Australia's top-tier law firms are the "Big Six" full-service commercial firms (Allens, Ashurst Perkins Coie, Clayton Utz, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Mallesons and MinterEllison) plus firms that are often grouped with them, mainly Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Gilbert + Tobin. Each has offices in at least three Australian capital cities and acts mainly for listed companies, banks, infrastructure owners and government.
There is no official ranking of these firms. The list below is in alphabetical order, and it describes each firm from its own public statements as at September 2026. If you have a personal or small-business matter, start with the practice-area rankings on best law firms in Australia, which compare firms for one type of work in one city.
What are the Big Six law firms in Australia?
The Big Six is the name long used for Australia's six largest commercial law firms, before a series of international mergers that began in 2012. The original six were:
- Allens (then Allens Arthur Robinson)
- Blake Dawson, now Ashurst Perkins Coie in Australia
- Clayton Utz
- Freehills, now part of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
- Mallesons Stephen Jaques, King & Wood Mallesons from 2012 to 2026 and now Mallesons
- MinterEllison
The term is informal. No body defines it, and lists differ. Since 2012, several of the six have merged or allied with overseas firms, and commentators now often say "top-tier" instead. Corrs Chambers Westgarth is included in many current lists of the six or of a "Big Seven", and Gilbert + Tobin is regularly named in top-tier discussions.
Top-tier law firms compared
The table sets out each firm's Australian offices, international links and main focus. It is in alphabetical order, not in order of quality or size.
| Firm | Founded (Australian origins) | Australian offices | International affiliation | Main focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allens | 1822 | Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Independent partnership in alliance with Linklaters LLP; offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Port Moresby | Corporate, M&A, disputes, energy, resources, infrastructure, financial services |
| Ashurst Perkins Coie | 1841 (first Australian office, Melbourne) | Brisbane (two offices), Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Part of Ashurst Perkins Coie, formed June 2026; Port Moresby office | Technology, energy and infrastructure, financial services, disputes |
| Clayton Utz | Firm describes itself as one of Australia's oldest | Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Australian offices only | Advisory, disputes, projects, regulatory and transactions for large private and government clients |
| Corrs Chambers Westgarth | More than 185 years of history (firm statement) | Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Independent; office in Port Moresby | Major transactions, projects and significant disputes |
| Gilbert + Tobin | 1988 | Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Independent; Australian offices only | Complex, high-profile corporate and government matters |
| Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer | 19th century (Freehills predecessors) | Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Global firm formed on 1 June 2025 from Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin | Corporate, disputes, energy, mining, real estate, government |
| Mallesons | 1832 (earliest predecessor) | Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Independent since separating from King & Wood in March 2026; office in Singapore | Corporate, M&A, banking and finance, disputes, projects |
| MinterEllison | Nearly 200 years of history (firm statement) | Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Independent; offices in Auckland and Wellington, and a presence in London and Asia | Full-service commercial practice with specialist consulting |
Profiles of the top-tier firms
Allens
Allens was founded on 22 July 1822, the day after George Allen was admitted as an attorney and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The firm describes itself as Australia's oldest continuous law firm. It formed through mergers of Allen Allen & Hemsley (Sydney), Feez Ruthning (Brisbane), Hedderwick Fookes & Alston and Arthur Robinson & Co (Melbourne). Allens is an independent partnership in alliance with Linklaters LLP, which gives it a network of 40 offices in 25 countries, according to the firm.
Ashurst Perkins Coie
The Australian practice of Ashurst Perkins Coie was formerly Blake Dawson, one of the original Big Six. The firm states that its first Australian office opened in Melbourne in 1841. Ashurst combined with the US firm Perkins Coie on 28 June 2026. At that date the firm reported more than 3,500 client-facing practitioners, more than 950 partners and 52 offices worldwide, with Sydney as one of its flagship hubs.
Clayton Utz
Clayton Utz states that it is one of Australia's oldest and largest law firms, with offices in six cities and nearly 200 partners (firm website, September 2026). It is the only firm in this group with an office in Darwin. The firm lists advisory, disputes, projects, regulatory and transactions work for large private sector and government clients.
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Corrs Chambers Westgarth describes itself as Australia's leading independent law firm, with more than 185 years of history and a team of over 1,500 people (firm website, September 2026). It works on major transactions, projects and significant disputes, and it has an office in Port Moresby.
Gilbert + Tobin
Gilbert + Tobin was founded in 1988 by Danny Gilbert and Tony Tobin, which makes it much younger than the other firms in this group. It works from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth for major corporate and government clients. It is independent and has no overseas merger partner.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Freehills merged with the London firm Herbert Smith in 2012 to form Herbert Smith Freehills. On 1 June 2025 that firm combined with the New York firm Kramer Levin to form Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer). At launch the firm reported about 2,700 lawyers in 26 offices worldwide. Its Australian offices are in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and the firm states that its Melbourne office acted on the incorporation and float of BHP in 1885.
Mallesons
Mallesons is the Australian firm formerly called King & Wood Mallesons. The China and Australia partnerships of King & Wood Mallesons announced in December 2025 that they would separate, and the Australian firm returned to the Mallesons name at the end of March 2026. The firm traces its origins to 1832, and its earlier name, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, came from a 1987 merger that created a national firm. It has offices in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Singapore.
MinterEllison
MinterEllison describes itself as Australia's leading independent law firm enhanced by specialist consulting, with nearly 200 years of business history. It has offices in six Australian cities, including Adelaide and Canberra, and offices in Auckland and Wellington. Its services cover board governance, commercial contracts, disputes, employment, intellectual property, M&A, tax and technology.
Is there an official top 10 law firms list in Australia?
No official top 10 exists. No regulator, court or law society ranks law firms, and the Big Six label is a market term, not a formal category.
Lists of the "top 10" or the "biggest" law firms rely on one of three sources:
- Firm statements of lawyer or partner numbers, which each firm counts in its own way.
- Published industry surveys, such as annual partnership and revenue surveys in the business press, which depend on what firms choose to report.
- Directory research, which ranks practice groups rather than whole firms.
Headcount and revenue change every year, and global firms often report figures for their whole network, not for Australia alone. Any size figure is only meaningful with its source and year, which is why the figures on this page are dated. For how this site's own lists are built, see how we rank law firms.
What does "top-tier" mean?
A top-tier law firm is a large, full-service commercial firm that handles the biggest transactions and disputes in the Australian market. In practice, the label describes firms that share these features:
- offices in most mainland capital cities;
- several hundred lawyers or more;
- work on large mergers, capital raisings, infrastructure projects and class actions;
- regular appointments to government legal panels;
- in several cases, a merger or alliance with a UK or US firm.
"Mid-tier" usually refers to national or multi-state firms that are smaller and serve mid-market companies, and "boutique" refers to smaller firms that focus on one area of law.
Who uses top-tier law firms?
Top-tier firms act mainly for corporate and government clients. Typical clients are ASX-listed companies, banks and super funds, private equity funds, energy and resources companies, foreign investors and Commonwealth, state and territory agencies. The work is usually large in value and complex, such as a takeover, a project financing, a regulator investigation or a major court case.
Fees reflect this. Top-tier firms usually charge by the hour, with partner rates at the upper end of the market, and they staff matters with teams rather than one lawyer.
Do you need a top-tier firm?
Most individuals and small businesses do not need a top-tier firm. Personal matters such as divorce, a will, a property purchase, a workplace dispute or a traffic charge are handled every day by specialist firms and mid-size firms. These firms are often more accessible, and many have accredited specialists in the relevant area of law.
For business matters, compare Commercial & Business Lawyers in Australia, which covers contracts, business sales and shareholder issues. For a court dispute, compare Litigation Lawyers in Australia. For building contracts and payment claims, see Construction Lawyers in Australia, and for trade marks, patents and copyright, see Intellectual Property Lawyers in Australia.
To check any firm, large or small, read How to Choose a Lawyer in Australia. It sets out the checks to make before you engage a firm.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Big Six law firms in Australia?
The six firms originally called the Big Six were Allens, Blake Dawson (now Ashurst Perkins Coie), Clayton Utz, Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer), Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now Mallesons) and MinterEllison. The term is informal, and many current lists also include Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Is there an official ranking of Australian law firms?
No. No regulator or law society ranks law firms. Published lists rely on firm statements, industry surveys or directory research, and each uses its own method.
What is the oldest law firm in Australia?
Allens describes itself as Australia's oldest continuous law firm. It dates its founding to 22 July 1822, the day after George Allen was admitted as an attorney and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
Do top-tier firms act for individuals?
Their client base is mainly large companies, financial institutions and government. Most personal legal matters, such as family law, wills, conveyancing or criminal charges, go to specialist or mid-size firms.
What does "Big Law" mean in Australia?
"Big Law" is an informal name for the largest full-service commercial firms. In Australia it usually refers to the Big Six and the firms most often grouped with them.