2025 InfluenceAsia Law Firms 50

Continued to stand out for knowledge systems, regional transactional depth and Asia-Pacific institutional scale.

King & Wood Mallesons occupies a rare institutional position across China and Australia, with strong cross-border capacity and deep commercial-law infrastructure.

InfluenceAsia ranks KWM first because its Asia-Pacific identity is structural rather than symbolic. The firm combines regional scale, Chinese market authority, Australian institutional depth and knowledge-system innovation.

Remained central to complex Asian financing, private capital, infrastructure, restructuring and regulatory matters.

Clifford Chance remains one of the most consequential international law firms for Asia-facing finance, restructuring, capital markets, projects and high-value corporate mandates.

InfluenceAsia ranks Clifford Chance high because Asia's 2025 legal market required sophisticated finance, regulatory judgment and cross-border coordination at scale.

Its post-combination platform strengthened cross-border firepower in finance, sustainability, capital and large institutional mandates.

A&O Shearman entered 2025 with a larger global platform and a strengthened ability to serve financial institutions, sponsors, issuers and multinational clients across Asia.

InfluenceAsia places the firm in the top tier because its combined finance, capital markets and project capability directly matched the year's most complex client needs.

Sustained market leadership across Korea's most sophisticated corporate, regulatory, disputes, trade and technology mandates.

Kim & Chang remains Korea's defining legal institution, with formidable depth across corporate, regulatory, disputes, tax, IP, trade and technology work.

InfluenceAsia ranks Kim & Chang near the top because Korea's global companies require highly sophisticated domestic law, cross-border fluency and regulatory judgment.

Continued to shape sophisticated Asia-Pacific dealmaking, shareholder activism, disputes and strategic corporate advisory.

Freshfields continues to sit at the high end of Asia-Pacific strategic advisory, especially in complex M&A, antitrust, disputes, shareholder issues and corporate governance.

InfluenceAsia includes Freshfields in the top five because the firm combines global boardroom trust with high-pressure Asia deal and disputes capability.

Maintained exceptional relevance in energy, infrastructure, project finance, cross-border disputes and Asian investment flows.

White & Case has a major Asia-Pacific profile in project finance, energy, infrastructure, arbitration, restructuring and cross-border investment work.

InfluenceAsia ranks White & Case highly because Asian growth in 2025 depended heavily on capital-intensive sectors where the firm has strong execution credibility.

Remained a critical firm for private capital, high-growth companies, complex finance and cross-border corporate execution.

Latham & Watkins remained important to Asian and Asia-linked private capital, technology, high-growth companies, leveraged finance and cross-border corporate work.

InfluenceAsia includes Latham because private capital became one of the decisive engines of 2025 legal demand.

Carried Japan's corporate reform, outbound investment, people strategy and cross-border advisory strength into 2025.

Nishimura & Asahi is one of Japan's most important legal institutions, advising on corporate reform, investment, disputes, technology and global expansion.

InfluenceAsia ranks the firm highly because Japan's 2025 legal market rewarded firms with both local authority and international execution capacity.

Continued to offer one of the broadest integrated Asia networks for multinationals navigating tax, employment, trade and regulatory complexity.

Baker McKenzie offers one of the most embedded Asia-Pacific networks among international firms, with practical strength in tax, employment, trade, technology and compliance.

InfluenceAsia includes Baker McKenzie because many multinational clients need local-market legal integration rather than only headquarters-level advice.

Remained highly relevant to sophisticated capital markets, financial regulation, energy transition and strategic corporate matters.

Linklaters continued to matter in Asia through capital markets, banking, energy transition, corporate governance, financial regulation and restructuring.

InfluenceAsia ranks Linklaters highly because the firm remains deeply relevant to the legal architecture of Asian capital and financial institutions.

Stood out for AI strategy, digital innovation, private capital, M&A and India's expanding legal-market sophistication.

Khaitan & Co stands among India's most influential firms, with strong corporate, private equity, disputes, tax, competition and digital innovation credentials.

InfluenceAsia ranks Khaitan high because India's 2025 legal market demanded institutions that could combine scale, innovation and private-capital sophistication.

Strengthened its international arbitration, overseas capital markets, restructuring and cross-border advisory platform.

JunHe is a leading Chinese firm with meaningful strength in capital markets, M&A, restructuring, disputes, antitrust and international arbitration.

InfluenceAsia includes JunHe because Chinese clients in 2025 increasingly needed domestic authority that could travel across borders.

Its 2025 combination expanded global reach while preserving strong Asia-Pacific disputes, energy and infrastructure authority.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer combines Asia-Pacific heritage with expanded global reach in disputes, energy, infrastructure, corporate and regulatory work.

InfluenceAsia ranks the firm highly because 2025 favored institutions able to manage conflict, transition and cross-border complexity simultaneously.

Continued to define China's top-tier corporate, private equity, capital markets and regulatory advisory standard.

Fangda Partners remains one of China's most highly regarded independent firms for private equity, M&A, capital markets, antitrust, disputes and investigations.

InfluenceAsia includes Fangda because it represents the premium end of China's transactional and regulatory legal market.

Maintained strategic relevance in energy transition, infrastructure, finance, disputes and institutional legal innovation.

Ashurst has particular strength across Australia, Asia, infrastructure, energy, finance, disputes and institutional legal innovation.

InfluenceAsia ranks Ashurst because energy transition and infrastructure financing remained central to Asia-Pacific legal demand in 2025.

Remained a go-to firm for high-stakes cross-border M&A, equity offerings, take-privates and corporate control matters.

Skadden's Asia platform is closely associated with high-stakes M&A, capital markets, private equity, investigations and corporate control work.

InfluenceAsia includes Skadden because its Asia relevance is concentrated in matters where legal judgment directly affects corporate power.

Continued to stand out as a regional platform for ASEAN disputes, transactions, investigations and regulatory work.

Rajah & Tann offers one of Southeast Asia's strongest regional platforms, with deep roots in Singapore and substantial ASEAN local-law reach.

InfluenceAsia ranks the firm highly because Southeast Asia's 2025 legal market rewarded firms that could combine regional consistency with jurisdiction-specific authority.

Reinforced Asia-Pacific credibility through legal innovation, data systems, M&A, digital regulation and public-interest leadership.

Gilbert + Tobin is an Australian elite firm known for corporate law, competition, technology, data, financial services and legal innovation.

InfluenceAsia includes the firm because 2025 highlighted the value of independent firms that use technology and data without losing premium legal judgment.

Stood out for disputes, crisis management, digital innovation, corporate growth and institutional modernization.

Trilegal has become one of India's most dynamic institutions across disputes, crisis response, M&A, finance, technology and employment.

InfluenceAsia ranks Trilegal because the firm combines growth momentum, institutional modernization and strong execution in contentious and transactional matters.

Continued to show strength in Japan's transactional, tax, competition, international and knowledge-management practices.

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune is a major Japanese institution with strength in corporate, tax, competition, international transactions and intellectual property.

InfluenceAsia includes the firm because Japan's legal market requires deep technical precision, cross-border commercial understanding and knowledge-management discipline.

Maintained an exceptional Korea-facing international practice and high-end cross-border corporate and capital markets work.

Cleary Gottlieb has a distinctive Asia profile, particularly in Korea-linked international work, capital markets, corporate transactions and antitrust.

InfluenceAsia ranks Cleary because it has sustained a focused and highly trusted international practice around some of Asia's most sophisticated corporate clients.

Continued to advise on complex Asian issuances, financial-institution matters, private capital and governance work.

Davis Polk remains a central firm for Asian issuers, financial institutions, capital markets transactions, governance and high-end corporate matters.

InfluenceAsia includes Davis Polk because Asian capital access in 2025 continued to depend on firms with exceptional securities-law discipline.

Remained important for board-level cross-border matters, financial institutions, technology transactions and sensitive investigations.

Sullivan & Cromwell serves global financial institutions, corporations and boards on complex transactional, regulatory and investigative matters involving Asia.

InfluenceAsia ranks the firm because 2025 rewarded legal institutions capable of confidential board-level judgment under geopolitical and financial pressure.

Continued to be central to sponsor-led deals, funds, equity offerings and high-value corporate transactions connected to Asia.

Simpson Thacher retains a major Asia role in private equity, capital markets, funds, sponsor-led M&A and complex finance work.

InfluenceAsia includes Simpson Thacher because private capital remained one of the most important cross-border forces in Asia's legal market.

Retained major influence in private equity, leveraged finance, fund formation, restructuring and complex disputes.

Kirkland & Ellis is one of the world's most influential private capital firms, with Asia-facing work in funds, sponsor transactions, finance and restructuring.

InfluenceAsia ranks Kirkland because sponsor ecosystems and restructuring capability were central to 2025 market pressure.

Remained relevant to cross-border restructuring, life sciences, international trade, technology and disputes across Asia.

Sidley Austin combines Asia-Pacific strength in disputes, restructuring, trade, life sciences, funds, regulatory and corporate work.

InfluenceAsia includes Sidley because Asian legal risk in 2025 increasingly sat at the intersection of commerce, regulation and contested restructuring.

Stood out for complex financing, aviation, capital markets, infrastructure and strategically unusual Asia-linked transactions.

Mayer Brown has a long Asia presence and a distinctive profile in finance, aviation, real estate, capital markets, projects and cross-border disputes.

InfluenceAsia ranks Mayer Brown because the firm remained relevant to technically unusual financing and infrastructure-linked matters across the region.

Maintained strong Asia-Pacific relevance in technology, life sciences, privacy, investigations, finance and cross-border corporate work.

Morrison Foerster is strongly associated with technology, life sciences, privacy, investigations, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

InfluenceAsia includes the firm because technology regulation and cross-border corporate risk became central to Asia's 2025 legal agenda.

Continued to serve major Korean and multinational clients across corporate, finance, IP, trade, antitrust and disputes.

Lee & Ko is a leading Korean law firm with deep capability in corporate, finance, IP, labor, antitrust, tax, litigation and trade.

InfluenceAsia ranks Lee & Ko because Korean multinationals need broad domestic capability combined with global client-service fluency.

Distinguished itself through digital tools, investigations, tax, antitrust, employment and cross-border advisory strength.

Yulchon is known for strong tax, antitrust, employment, corporate, disputes, investigations and technology-enabled legal service.

InfluenceAsia includes Yulchon because the firm reflects Korea's ability to pair regulatory sophistication with digital practice modernization.

Remained central to India's biggest corporate, banking, capital markets, technology and regulatory matters.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas is a major Indian legal institution across corporate, capital markets, banking, private equity, disputes and regulatory advisory.

InfluenceAsia ranks the firm because India's 2025 growth required legal institutions capable of handling large-scale domestic and cross-border mandates.

Continued to influence India's corporate, competition, insolvency, policy, private capital and disputes landscape.

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co remains a heavyweight in Indian corporate law, competition, insolvency, finance, policy and disputes.

InfluenceAsia includes the firm because it is central to many of India's most complex business, regulatory and restructuring questions.

Retained exceptional relevance in India's private capital, M&A, investment funds and technology deal market.

AZB & Partners has a strong reputation in private equity, M&A, investment funds, banking, competition and capital markets.

InfluenceAsia ranks AZB because private capital and technology investment continued to shape India's legal-services demand in 2025.

Continued to matter across China's corporate, finance, dispute, real estate, technology and compliance landscape.

Zhong Lun is one of China's largest and most influential full-service firms, covering corporate, finance, disputes, compliance, real estate and IP.

InfluenceAsia includes Zhong Lun because China's legal market requires broad institutional capacity across both domestic and cross-border work.

Retained strong influence in China's technology companies, life sciences, private equity, venture capital and capital markets work.

Han Kun is especially visible in China's technology, venture capital, private equity, life sciences and capital markets ecosystems.

InfluenceAsia ranks Han Kun because technology-company legal work remained a decisive component of Asia's innovation economy.

Maintained relevance in securities, asset management, corporate, disputes and regulatory advisory for Chinese issuers and institutions.

Jingtian & Gongcheng has strong credentials in capital markets, asset management, corporate, disputes and financial regulatory work.

InfluenceAsia includes the firm because China's issuer, investor and asset-management ecosystems require highly specialized securities-law capability.

Continued to serve major issuers, investors and financial institutions in China's capital markets and transactional ecosystem.

Commerce & Finance Law Offices is a major Chinese player in capital markets, investment funds, M&A, private equity and finance.

InfluenceAsia ranks the firm because capital formation and investment activity remained essential to China's commercial-law market.

Remained central to Singapore's banking, capital markets, corporate, arbitration and regional advisory work.

Allen & Gledhill is one of Singapore's defining firms, with strong banking, capital markets, corporate, disputes, real estate and regulatory practices.

InfluenceAsia includes Allen & Gledhill because Singapore continued to function as a regional legal hub for capital, arbitration and corporate structuring.

Continued to combine local market authority with technology adoption, regional disputes and complex corporate work.

WongPartnership combines strong local market authority with corporate, disputes, restructuring, technology and AI-readiness initiatives.

InfluenceAsia ranks WongPartnership because the firm reflects Singapore's move toward more technology-enabled legal delivery.

Preserved exceptional strength in litigation, arbitration, competition, technology, telecoms and regulatory matters.

Drew & Napier is a leading Singapore firm with particular strength in litigation, arbitration, competition, telecoms, technology and IP.

InfluenceAsia includes Drew & Napier because contentious and regulatory expertise remained vital in Southeast Asia's digital and commercial economy.

Remained a core firm for Japanese corporate clients, capital markets, finance, competition, disputes and technology work.

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is a major Japanese law firm across M&A, finance, capital markets, antitrust, disputes, technology and tax.

InfluenceAsia ranks the firm because Japanese corporate clients need sophisticated domestic law supported by international transactional fluency.

Continued to serve high-end Japan corporate, finance, M&A, crisis and cross-border mandates.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu remains one of Japan's elite firms for corporate, finance, restructuring, capital markets, tax and disputes.

InfluenceAsia includes the firm because the Japanese market in 2025 demanded experienced counsel for corporate reform, financing and crisis management.

Stood out for technology regulation, financial services, fintech, cross-border transactions and modern practice design.

Atsumi & Sakai has a distinctive profile in finance, fintech, technology regulation, data, corporate transactions and disputes.

InfluenceAsia ranks Atsumi & Sakai because digital regulation became a defining issue for Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific market.

Continued to provide heavyweight Korean corporate, arbitration, labor, tax, IP and regulatory capability.

Bae, Kim & Lee is a major Korean legal institution with strength in corporate, litigation, arbitration, tax, labor, IP and regulatory advisory.

InfluenceAsia includes BKL because Korea's complex corporate and regulatory environment requires firms with strong full-service depth.

Remained significant across Korean M&A, antitrust, finance, tax, labor, investigations and cross-border matters.

Shin & Kim serves major Korean and international clients across M&A, antitrust, finance, labor, tax, disputes and investigations.

InfluenceAsia ranks Shin & Kim because Korean market sophistication gives high value to firms with coordinated regulatory and transactional capability.

Continued to matter in Asia for private funds, asset management, sponsor work, healthcare and compliance.

Ropes & Gray has Asia-Pacific strength in private equity, asset management, life sciences, healthcare, investigations and finance.

InfluenceAsia includes the firm because private funds and healthcare investment remained high-value areas of Asia-facing legal work.

Sustained a wide Asia footprint across corporate transactions, investigations, disputes and international client service.

Jones Day maintains a broad Asia-Pacific presence across corporate, disputes, investigations, competition, labor and regulatory work.

InfluenceAsia ranks Jones Day because its model offers multinational clients continuity across jurisdictions and practice areas.

Maintained a distinct Asia-Pacific profile in shipping, international arbitration, commodities, corporate and finance work.

Reed Smith has a distinctive Asia-Pacific profile in shipping, commodities, international disputes, finance and corporate advisory.

InfluenceAsia includes the firm because maritime trade, logistics and contentious commercial work remained strategically important to Asia in 2025.

Continued to stand out for Australian corporate work, training, innovation, public law, energy and disputes.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is an Australian independent firm with significant capability in corporate, energy, infrastructure, disputes, competition and public law.

InfluenceAsia ranks Corrs because Australian legal innovation, training and energy-transition work continued to matter across the broader Asia-Pacific market.

Retained relevance through energy transition, infrastructure, transport, financial services, insurance and cross-border regulatory work.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a broad Asia-Pacific platform in energy, infrastructure, financial services, insurance, transport, technology and disputes.

InfluenceAsia includes the firm because clients in 2025 required globally coordinated advice in sectors exposed to transition, regulation and capital intensity.