In the annual Thomson Reuters Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index 2022, KWM was ranked 9th and inside the top 10 for the first time. The Index benchmarks global brand strength by measuring spontaneous brand awareness, and favourability, consideration for multi-jurisdictional litigation and multi-jurisdictional deals based on interviews with over 1,700 General Counsel across 51 countries.
Our continued strong and uplifted ranking represents our team’s ability to embrace the changes brought on by the global pandemic in the way we operate, the dynamism of our people, and how we have been able to apply new innovations and methodologies to support our clients.
Chambers rankings
KWM has climbed in the latest Chambers rankings across Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Australia and Singapore.
Mainland China
- 30 practice area rankings, of which 22 are ranked as Band 1
- 69 partners and lawyers were awarded the title of "Leading Lawyers", 12 partners were awarded the titles of "Senior Statespeople" or "Eminent Practitioners", and 15 partners were rated as Band 1 leading lawyers.
Hong Kong SAR
- 16 practice area rankings
- 17 lawyers earning individual rankings across 13 practice areas in the International Firms category of the newly launched 2022 Chambers Greater China Region legal rankings.
Australia
- 33 practice area rankings, of which 20 are ranked as Band 1
- 110 partners and lawyers rankings, of which 29 were ranked Band 1.
Singapore
- Ranked as Band 1 for Corporate / M&A: International
- 2 partners recognised as leaders in their field.
We have also improved our rankings in the Global edition of the guide:
- Overall, the number of ranked departments went to 61 – up from 57 last year
-28 of our global practice areas are ranked as Band 1 (an improvement from 26 last year).
Four of our practices secured a new ranking, including:
-Germany – Corporate / M&A (Foreign Expertise)
-Spain – Banking & Finance
-China - International Trade: Customs, Exports and Sanctions
-Singapore – Corporate / M&A: International: Highly Regarded.
KWM was also ranked first in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Australia in the newly released 2022 Chambers FinTech Guide
Top of the league
KWM’s Debt Capital Markets team has topped the Bloomberg and Refinitiv league table Debt Capital Markets rankings when we were recently named:
- in the top three for Asia Pacific Bonds by volume standings
- in the top three for Australian International Bonds by volume standings
- the number one legal advisor for the Australian International Bonds Issuers
- in the top three for Currency Bond in China and Currency Bond in Asia (excluding Central Asia)
- fifth in the Global International Bonds by volume rankings, rising a significant seven positions over the past 12 months.
KWM’s B&F team also achieved a brilliant outcome with respect to the Bloomberg and Debtwire 2021 Syndicated Loans League Tables when we were recently named:
- the number 1 for Australia Borrowers’ Legal Counsel in both number of deals and volume
- the number 1 Asia Pacific Borrowers’ Legal Counsel in both number of deals and volume
- fifth for Australia Lead Banks’ Legal Counsel
- top 10 for Asia Pacific Lead Banks’ Legal Counsel.
Top M&A in Spain
Our Spain team has taken home 9th position in the TTR ranking Top M&A Law Firms in Spain 2021, by number of deals, climbing a sharp four positions from the previous year.
Senior Associate Victoria Ruenes and Associate Rosa Chen were named as M&A Rising Stars by number of deals in these rankings.
Global recognition
Award season for this year has officially kicked off with the firm currently awaiting to hear the results of our submissions for a number of major international awards.
Since the last Global Update, KWM took home 11 awards at the IFLR1000
China Awards, including:
- Firm of the year
- Lawyer of the year
- Rising star of the year
- Deal of the year