An Introduction to Charlotte’s Legal Market
In the heart of the Southeast, Charlotte, North Carolina stands out as a vibrant legal hub. Over the past few decades, Charlotte’s legal industry has experienced substantial growth, fueled by the city’s burgeoning economy, diverse population, and status as a banking capital. Major corporations, innovative tech startups, and a strong medical community all converge in this dynamic city, establishing it as a thriving metropolis with a constantly expanding legal landscape.
The legal environment in Charlotte is robust and multifaceted. It plays host to a multitude of practice areas, from traditional fields like litigation, real estate, and intellectual property to growing sectors such as health and medical malpractice, environmental law, and even blockchain innovation. The American Bar Association has declared the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area to be a district teeming with educational and professional opportunities for lawyers, evidencing the high demand for legal services and support .
Lawyers and firms in Charlotte cater to an increasingly diverse clientele. From large corporations and budding entrepreneurs to everyday people in need of legal representation, Charlotte’s legal professionals work in a broad range of specializations. This variety is reflected in the numerous "Best Law Firms" in Charlotte list, which highlights the depth and breadth of legal expertise present in the area.
The Charlotte legal community is also characterized by its collaborative spirit. Many law firms in the area offer free consultations and pro bono support, ensuring that everyone can access quality legal help. Additionally, many firms are currently embracing technology, which lends itself to greater flexibility and convenience when seeking legal counsel.
Charlotte’s legal landscape is not only rich in opportunities for success but is also a strong supporter of the rule of law and justice. Legal professionals in the city are conscious of their responsibilities and prioritize social justice by serving both the local and extended communities.
How We Calculate Charlotte’s Largest Law Firms
Criterion for Ranking the Largest Law Firms in North Carolina:
Determining the largest law firms is not an exact science. While we can easily look up the number of attorneys (see the North Carolina State Bar website, which actually shows this information for all North Carolina licensed lawyers) and the areas of specialty for each of those attorneys, it would take a Herculean effort to gather revenue information.
So, unfortunately, we are left with the largest firm in terms of the number of attorneys. The rankings are actually as follows:
- Lowenstein Sandler LLP 1110 Attorneys
- Baker McKenzie 908 Attorneys
- K&L Gates LLP 844 Attorneys
- Greenberg Traurig, PA 804 Attorneys
- Reed Smith 824 Attorneys
- Reed Smith LLP 746 Attorneys
- Polsinelli 733 Attorneys
- DLA Piper LLC 675 Attorneys
- White & Case LLP 658 Attorneys
- Morgan Lewis Bockius LLP 637 Attorneys
So, although only 3 of these are North Carolina based firms, they are the largest law firms in the world, and so cannot help but dominate the list of largest firms in Charlotte.
Largest Law Firms in Charlotte: The Top 5
A number of the largest law firms in the Southeast are located in Charlotte, North Carolina. These law firms employ hundreds of lawyers and do work from the state of North Carolina as well as other states, and internationally. The following is a list of the five largest law firms in Charlotte based on their number of attorneys.
1. Womble Bond Dickinson
The historical roots of Womble Bond Dickinson stretch back to the 19th century, when Randall Page & Smith was founded in Richmond, Virginia in 1847. In 1998, the firm merged with Greensboro, North Carolina firm Smith Moore. The firm continued to expand in the years after with same-sex or "lateral" mergers, and by 2017 established Womble Bond Dickinson as an "AmLaw 100" firm — the list of the 100 largest law firms in the United States.
Office locations:
Greensboro
Morrisville
Raleigh
Charlotte
South Carolina
Georgia
Virginia
London
2. Robinson Bradshaw
Robinson Bradshaw & Hincman, a highly respected business law firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, traces its roots to the 1960s when it was founded by Raleigh attorney Edwin Robinson who later became a Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
In the years since its founding, Robinson Bradshaw has built a practice that particularly represents clients in the business, corporate, and real estate sectors. It has also built up a strong roster of attorneys knowledgeable in tax law, antitrust law, intellectual property, energy law, and many other practice areas. Because the firm primarily focuses on business law, it routinely represents a large group of clients that includes private equity firms, hedge fund companies, commercial real estate developers, corporate in-house counsel, and trade associations.
Office locations:
3. Moore & Van Allen PLLC
The roots of Moore & Van Allen date all the way back to 1876 when three separate law firms — Daniel & Williamson, Turrentine & Moore, and Battey & Van Allen — were each founded in Charlotte. These three firms would later merge over the next half century into two. On March 1, 1999, Paul J. Bonaparte III and Graham M. Weston, the leaders of the two largest surviving firms, Moore & Virts and Clyde and Moore, announced the beginning of the current firm as Moore & Van Allen. With over 235 lawyers, Moore & Van Allen is one of the largest corporate law firms in the Carolinas.
Office locations:
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
New York
Virginia
Office locations:
North Carolina
District of Columbia
4. Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP
Womble Carlyle traces its heritage back to Raleigh lawyer Alfred M. Womble, who founded his law practice in 1876. That Raleigh office would eventually spawn offices in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Charlotte, which became Womble Carlyle East. It was only in 1999 that Womble Carylyle officially became Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLP, after merging with the firm of Lucas, Green & Howell of Winston-Salem. Since 2000, the firm has experienced rapid growth.
The firm has a strong reputation for business and corporate law. Womble Carlyle is particularly potent in the fields of technology (biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices), financial services (banking, investments, securities and private equity) and real estate and environmental law.
Office locations:
Alabama
California
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia
5. Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Katten Muchin Rosenman offices are located in 13 separate cities across the country, six of which are located in the Southeast United States. The firm is a general practice, which means it has lawyers experienced in a myriad of different fields of the law. It has the highest ranking on Chambers USA in Environmental Law, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, Real Estate, and Real Estate Finance.
Katten Muchin Rosenman has a particularly strong reputation for litigation; indeed, 130 of its lawyers practice exclusively in law. It has represented clients such as AOL, Morgan Stanley, Time Warner, and Boeing in various litigation matters. Its litigation team includes specialists in antitrust, business torts, intellectual property, employment litigation and real estate litigation.
Office locations:
Illinois
New York
Washington DC
Palm Beach
North Carolina
Texas
Key practices:
What Defines a Top Law Firm?
Leading law firms such as Davidson and Associates, Upstate Law Group, Colley Gage and Associates, and Sweeney Attorneys know how to effectively win cases for clients, and much of that comes down to their experience and expertise in the field. They know how to go after the tough cases that other law firms won’t take and how to win cases for clients who have a limited chance at success.
What gives these leading law firms an advantage over the competition? When you’re looking for a trusted and experienced personal injury attorney, you need to look for some of the following characteristics.
Integrity and Honesty
A good lawyer will be transparent about his or her fee structures. You shouldn’t have to pay substantial fees, like retainers , up front. A personal injury lawyer will be able to help you get compensation for your injuries that will be substantial enough to cover his or her fees and expenses so that you don’t have to pay anything out-of-pocket. So if a lawyer is asking for substantial fees up front, even after saying he or she would operate on a contingency basis, you should pay attention.
Physical Presence
How does the law firm in question treat your case? A number of factors go into it, such as:
If a law firm isn’t fully invested in your case and the outcome, then that firm is not going to be able to give you the representation you need or the good results.
Follow Up and Support
Communication is vital in the relationship between you and your lawyer. You want to be kept informed of all developments in your case. So make sure the law firm you’re thinking about hiring has a good support structure and keeps the lines of communication open.
Determining the Best Fit Law Firm
When it comes to selecting a law firm in Charlotte, NC, there are several key factors to consider before making your choice. It’s crucial to find the most qualified attorneys with experience, and whom you feel comfortable discussing your legal matter with. The best way to locate which firm specializes in the area of law you need help with is by conducting a quick internet search. You can then compare the firm’s experience with similar cases, their attorney bios, and client reviews. If you are an individual client or a small business, you want to make sure that you will receive the attention needed to help you with your case. On the other hand, if you are a large corporation, you may wish to hire one of the top firms that have extensive knowledge and reputation in corporate and commercial law.
Where is Charlotte’s Legal Marketing Going?
Looking ahead, the Charlotte legal market is likely to see a number of emerging trends and challenges. Among them are the continued impact of technological advancements, changes in the regulatory landscape, and increased competition as new firms enter the market. Technological advancements are rapidly changing the way that law firms operate. Many are investing in artificial intelligence and machine learning software to streamline document review processes or reduce billing time. While this offers the potential to increase efficiency, it presents new challenges when it comes to information privacy and billing practices. As these technologies become more widely adopted , stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding these tools in North Carolina and nationwide. Changes to laws governing the industry could also impact the ways in which firms structure their businesses. Those with national and global reach will have to pay close attention to changes in bulk billing laws in the jurisdictions they serve. And any zoning restrictions that limit law office locations could have a tremendous effect on a firm’s ability to attract clients. Make sure you are in compliance with all local regulations. In addition, with increased competition anticipated in the Charlotte market, firms should be looking at their brand positioning. It will be important for firms to define their unique selling propositions and develop clear, consistent brand messages. This will help you communicate what differentiates you from your competition to clients and future talent.