Fastest-Growing Law Firms

Five Los Angeles-based law firms were among the nation’s fastest growing in the last year, according to a survey conducted by Legal Times, a weekly newspaper that covers the legal profession and has surveyed law firms about their size annually for the last seven years. In the category of firms with 200 or more lawyers, Latham & Watkins ranked as the fifth fastest-growing firm in the last year. Latham & Watkins has 304 lawyers, up 20.2% from the 253 lawyers it employed in 1984.

Ranking 10th was McKenna, Conner & Cuneo, which maintains headquarters in both Los Angeles and Washington. McKenna, Conner & Cuneo has a legal staff of 200, up 18.3% from 1984.

Among firms with between 100 and 199 lawyers, Haight, Dickson, Brown & Bonesteel was the third fastest growing, reporting a 49.3% increase to 100 lawyers. Fifth-ranked Memel, Jacobs, Pierno, Gersh & Ellsworth employs 142 lawyers, a 40.6% jump from 1984.

Lewis, D’Amato, Brisbois & Bisgaard was listed as the fastest-growing firm among those employing fewer than 100 lawyers. Lewis, D’Amato recorded a 71.4% jump to 84 lawyers. Three Los Angeles-based companies placed on a list of the 10 fastest-growing law firms from 1981 to 1985. Legal Times included only those firms with 200 or more lawyers in its list of the fastest growing over the four-year period.

Latham & Watkins of Los Angeles was listed as the fifth fastest-growing law firm from 1981 to 1985. Latham & Watkins reported a 78.8% increase in the number of lawyers it employs, to 304 from 170 in 1981.

Also making the growth list were Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, whose legal staff grew 70.9% to 475, and O’Melveny & Myers, which has 411 lawyers, up 68.5% from 1981.

Los Angeles ranked third in the median starting salary paid to incoming associates in 15 metropolitan areas. The median salary was $41,750 in Los Angeles, compared to $49,000 in New York and $43,000 in Dallas.