Unpacking the Ranking of Law Firm Dentons

History of Law Firm Dentons

Dentons law firm was established in 2013 through a successful merger of three leading law firms: Dentons Canada LLP, Dentons US LLP, and Dentons UK LLP. At that time, it had 145 offices across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Currently, Dentons has more than 9 , 300 lawyers and professionals located in more than 80 countries. It ranks as one of the largest law firms in the world with offices in most countries and major cities. It has more than 150 different nationalities of lawyers, having English, French, Spanish, and Mandarin speakers. The leadership structure of the firm is organized into three regions: Americas, Europe – Middle East – Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific.

Ranking and Global Recognition

Chambers Global, The Legal 500, The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, IFLR 1000 and Global Competition Review, Dentons is currently ranked as one of the top law firms globally across multiple practice areas and in numerous countries. Chambers and The Legal 500 are the leading legal industry rankings and are generally considered the most prestigious. Chambers and Partners ranks lawyers and law firms in more than 180 jurisdictions across the world and include over 6,000 ranked firms and more than 20,000 ranked lawyers. Legal 500 is the largest international research team of its kind in the world. Researchers have over 25 years of experience assessing the world’s leading law firms. Most of The Legal 500’s research is carried out during interviews with commercial clients. They request feedback on law firms’ strengths and weaknesses and ask clients to name firms their lawyers they have worked closely with in the last 12 months. They also consider practitioner rankings in other directories (e.g. Chambers) and conduct supplementary interviews of independent legal specialists. The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers identifies the world’s leading commercial law firms and practitioners. They cover 15 practice areas including Corporate & M&A, Banking, Technology & Telecommunications, IP, Energy, Arbitration, Antitrust and Commercial Litigation. The guide identifies the law firms and individuals in these areas who have met their criteria of excellence. The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers is published by Law Business Research Limited and is now in its seventeenth year of publication. It has grown rapidly since its inception and is firmly established as a highly regarded reference resource for in-house counsel and private practitioners alike. To compile the annual listings the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers conducts research into the world’s leading law firms and practitioners in the business-related areas of commercial law. Researchers focus on identifying and recommending individuals and firms demonstrating the highest level of legal expertise across 14 practice areas. Their data is based upon extensive interviews with clients and private practitioners from across the world over a six month period between April and October each year. Rankings issued by Global Competition Review are based on those firms highlighted by Who’s Who Legal as having expertise in competition matters. The Global Elite is reserved for those firms deemed to offer the highest quality of competition advice in a number of jurisdictions. Rising Stars are the future leaders in the international competition arena and represent noteworthy and highly regarded expert practitioners.

Factors Driving the High Ranking of Law Firm Dentons

The rise of Dentons is a classic example of how offering innovative and creative services in the legal industry can help a firm to shine above the rest. One of the main factors that has helped to propel Dentons to the top of the field is their focus on providing or utilizing the latest high tech tools to deliver better services. A perfect example of this is their release of the Dentons Decision Compass at the end of 2015. This tool utilizes analytics and artificial intelligence in order to help corporations make better decisions when faced with complex legal questions. The tool uses high level tools to analyze the issue at hand, and then researches available options, potential strategies, and even possible outcomes.
The firm’s commitment to client satisfaction is another factor that has worked wonders for Dentons. Many firms simply look to drive more results in less time, but Dentons understands that the opposite is needed in order to ensure long term success. Their reputation for high quality service has helped them to secure and maintain a score of extremely loyal clients over the years.
While the firm has a small headquarters in Canada, it has managed to build a global reach that few other firms are able to compete with. The size and location of some of the firm’s offices has helped them to easily penetrate into many different markets. Local firms may be able to compete when it comes to offering in depth services to clients in their area, but few can hope to match Dentons when looking at the firm on a global scale.
There are few firms that have managed to compete with Dentons’ expertise in specific industries. Industries that are often difficult to penetrate, such as renewable energy and cannabis, welcome firms with the experience that Dentons has been able to provide. Their industry expertise has helped them to build a strong reputation with their clients and has allowed them to penetrate into areas where other firms have failed.
These are just some of the most important factors that have helped to land Dentons the top spot in the NLJ 2016 Global 200 ranking. Dentons has used these factors to help build one of the most successful law firms in the world.

Comparison with Competitor Firms

When examining the strengths and weaknesses of Dentons, a comparative analysis with other top-ranking law firms is essential. Dentons’ unique global network and collaborative culture set it apart within the industry. This gives them an edge in providing services that are not only relevant to local markets but also flexible to unique client needs. Competitor firms like DLA Piper and Jones Day utilize a traditional command-and-control structure instead of a polycentric model like that of Dentons. The polycentric model allows for autonomous leadership and creates more collaboration, innovative thinking, and a localized knowledge base. We expect to see more world-class firms turn toward this model in the coming years as the business legal industry continues to evolve.
However, like any leading competitor, Dentons has its weaknesses. Although they have a strong international presence, their network lack a dominant market share in major U.S. markets. With the increasing consolidation in the industry , remaining competitive will require Dentons to adapt its models and practices to meet the changing landscape head-on. Current initiatives involve exploring novel legal technologies that other world-class firms have yet to untap.
When comparing Dentons to competitor firms, it is also essential to consider their differentiators. Most notably, the firm has been consistent in providing its clients with access to top-tier talent from over 79 countries. Their autonomous, multi-disciplined team of experts work closely with their local partners, often leading industry-specific and intricate deals to help advance their clients’ business objectives.
In terms of ranking, Dentons stands out as one of the innovators in the industry. But how these results will translate into the firm’s current and future growth potentials remain to be seen. For now, they have consistently held high rankings in several areas including intellectual property, energy, public policy, and infrastructure. As the firm continues to expand their operations internationally, their ranking allow them to immediately gain an edge over some of the biggest brands in the industry.

How Recognition Affects Client Choices

For a client looking for effective legal representation, research into a law firm is part of the hiring decision. The researched criteria may include a firm’s official profile, accolades, awards, press releases and industry rankings among others. While these factors are of great importance to a client, personal referrals, recommendations and the firm’s reputation in servicing similar transactions are equally relevant.
Rankings can have a varied response from different perspectives. It may be an important accolade for the firm as a whole or a specific practice group, but it can also have a detrimental impact if taken out of context or misinterpreted. A small firm that has a Tier One rank in a particular market may decide to forego that ranking if the firm believes the qualification criteria used are inappropriate. A large firm with a Tier One rank may decide to downplay it, believing that it should be Tier One for every practice ranked. Practice groups who are not ranked will develop a strategy to improve their stature within the firm.
For example, if one practice group is Tier One nationally, and the other Tier Two, the group in Tier Two will feel disadvantaged. What needs to be understood is that being selected out of thousands of applicants is an accomplishment in and of itself. The upside and downside to all of this is that when prospective clients are faced with hiring a professional advisor or service provider, rankings as well as personal recommendations and a firm’s reputation among peers and colleagues are all considered. Naturally, many investors and buyers of businesses want to deal with "a Tier One firm" and "a Tier One individual" within that firm. Many believe that this is a ticket to a faster resolution and an improved outcome. This is one reason why there will always be a market for legal and other professional service firms.

Future Outlook for Law Firm Dentons

Looking ahead, Dentons is well positioned for continued growth and expansion. As the legal industry continues to evolve, it is likely that Dentons will increasingly focus on expanding its global reach, seeking out new opportunities to serve clients in new markets. As one of the largest law firms in the world, Dentons has a strong reputation for excellence, and this will only help the firm to continue to attract and retain top talent and clients.
In addition, as legal technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, Dentons is poised to remain at the forefront of the industry. With its reputation as an innovative and forward-thinking law firm , Dentons is well positioned to leverage new technologies and stay ahead of the curve, enhancing its services and driving efficiency.
Finally, as the global economy continues to evolve, so too will client needs. As a result, Dentons will need to be proactive in anticipating and responding to these needs, expanding its services and capabilities as necessary to ensure that it remains competitive.
Overall, the future looks bright for Dentons. With a long-standing commitment to excellence and a focus on leveraging new technologies and anticipating client needs, the firm is well positioned to succeed in the years to come.