This is the 7th edition of our annual Largest Law Firms in Malaysia series. We total the number of lawyers from the Malaysian Bar Legal Directory. This is as at 7 December 2024.
The law firms will include the numbers from their branch offices. For this year’s edition, we have also included a mention of the number of pupils at the firm.
Seven 100-lawyer Firms
Since we started tracking Malaysia’s largest law firms, we have the highest number of 100-lawyer law firms.
As shown in the table further below, there was a consistent trend of growth in numbers for 9 out of the top 10 largest law firms. The growth in headcount may be an indicator of a consistent marketwide recovery and growth of legal work post-Covid times.
The Presence of China Law Firms
China remains Malaysia’s largest trading partners and one of our largest foreign investors. Hence, it was only a matter of time before we saw China law firms consider a presence in Malaysia.
In June 2024, Richard Wee Chambers made the headlines when the firm entered a collaboration agreement with Grandall Law Firm, one of the largest full-service law firms in China. This marked the first China-Malaysia law firm alliance. Since the alliance, Richard Wee Chambers has doubled its lawyer numbers to 24 and counting.
In July 2024, there was news of Yingke Law Global Network tying up with OCBC Bank to offer value-added banking-related services. Additionally, Yingke now has a member firm in Malaysia through Y Kong, Wong & Partners.
The expansion of China law firms is part of a larger global trend of China’s top ‘red circle’ law firms increasing their presence in other countries.
Our table below ranks the top 10 largest law firms and with the change in their lawyer count since our 2023 edition.
We have covered in our listing below the top 15 largest law firms in Malaysia.
#15: Shook Lin & Bok
Shook Lin & Bok with 58 lawyers (with last year’s edition at 59 lawyers). It currently has 6 pupils.
#13 (joint): Manjit Singh Sachdev Mohammad Radzi & Partners
The firm enters at 72 lawyers. The firm has 7 branch offices.
It currently has 7 pupils.
#13 (joint): Adnan Sundra & Low
Adnan Sundra & Low is listed with 72 lawyers. It currently has 6 pupils.
#12: Othman Hashim & Co
The firm has a total of 74 lawyers, drawn from its 8 branch offices.
With 16 pupils currently.
#11: Raja, Darryl & Loh
The firm has 78 lawyers – an increase of 2 lawyers from the last edition. It currently has 8 pupils.
#10: Wong & Partners
Wong & Partners is at the 10th position with 80 lawyers and 8 pupils.
#9: Tan Norizan & Associates
Tan Norizan & Associates continues to climb up the listings. 83 lawyers this year and 7 pupils.
#8: Zul Rafique & Partners
The firm is at 8th position with 94 lawyers and 16 pupils.
#7: Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill
LHAG begins the first of the 100-lawyer law firms in this year’s edition. With 100 lawyers and 11 pupils.
#6: Azmi & Associates
Azmi & Associates at 102 lawyers and 16 pupils.
#5: Rahmat Lim & Partners
The firm is at 111 lawyers and 14 pupils. The firm remains among the top 5 largest law firms.
#4: Zaid Ibrahim & Co
From our tracking, this is the first time Zaid Ibrahim & Co has dropped from the top spot of largest law firm. It has dropped to 4th position with 116 lawyers – a decrease of 9 lawyers from last year. It has 20 pupils.
#3: Skrine
Skrine is at 117 lawyers and 7 pupils.
#2: Christopher & Lee Ong
Christopher & Lee Ong is the firm with the largest growth among the largest law firms. It added 18 lawyers to now total 120 lawyers. It has 15 pupils.
#1: Shearn Delamore & Co
We now have a new largest law firm in Malaysia. Shearn Delamore & Co is at 122 lawyers. It has 16 pupils.
