For decades, New York has been the undisputed capital of Big Law – the home of billion-dollar deals, global litigation teams and the financial institutions that drive the profession’s most lucrative work. But the U.S. legal market is evolving. Power, talent, and opportunity are spreading far beyond Manhattan.
The next frontier of Big Law is not defined by one skyline but by the growing constellation of regional powerhouses – from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Austin, Miami and Seattle – where the future of the legal profession is being written.
The numbers tell the story. The Am Law 100 collectively generated more than $150 billion in revenue last year, with many of the fastest-growing firms headquartered outside New York. Los Angeles, Silicon Valley and Texas have become magnets for top legal talent, fuelled by the technology boom, venture capital, private equity, and an increasingly global client base.
West Coast offices that were once viewed as “outposts” are now central to firm strategy. Latham & Watkins, Kirkland & Ellis and Gibson Dunn all exemplify how non-NY roots or growth have translated into global dominance. In parallel, elite UK firms – long concentrated in London and New York – are watching closely, seeking ways to engage with the U.S. market more broadly, whether through mergers, alliances, or targeted partner recruitment.
This decentralisation is redefining what it means to be a U.S. law firm – and what it takes to recruit for one.
Even in an age of hybrid work and digital collaboration, location still matters. Local markets have their own character and rhythm: the dynamics of a Los Angeles transactional practice differ markedly from those of a Houston energy team or a Miami private client group. Understanding these nuances is crucial to building practices that thrive rather than simply exist.
That’s why our expansion to the West Coast is both timely and strategic. It’s about more than following client demand; it’s about recognising that the American legal market is no longer synonymous with New York. Our clients, whether global law firms or high-performing partners, increasingly want insight that reflects the diversity of the U.S. legal landscape.
Three areas stand out as growth engines in the next phase of Big Law:
These growth areas illustrate how Big Law’s next frontier is not a single place, it’s a network of dynamic, interconnected markets.
From London to Los Angeles, firms are competing for the same pool of elite talent – lawyers who can operate globally, think commercially, and adapt quickly. U.S. firms are pushing into Europe and Asia; international firms are doubling down on America.
The launch of SSQ West Coast reflects this reality: the U.S. market is both the largest and most complex in the world, and navigating it requires both global context and local expertise.
The next decade of Big Law growth will be driven by those who can connect these dots, offering global reach with local insight, and strategic ambition with cultural understanding.
The future of the American legal market will not be about replacing New York, but about expanding the definition of where opportunity lives. New York is a very mature market, so growth potential for many firms lies outside the Big Apple.
At SSQ, we see this not as a shift away from traditional centres of power, but as a broadening of the legal map – one that mirrors the global economy itself. Get in touch to discuss your team expansion and legal search needs across the U.S. and beyond.
