Baker McKenzie was founded in 1949 when Russell Baker and John McKenzie shared a taxi ride home by chance—planting the seeds for what would become the world's leading global law firm. For over 75 years, we've witnessed fundamental shifts in business and society, from the civil rights movement to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the invention of the worldwide web. Today, we operate across 74 offices in 45 countries with more than 4,500 attorneys, maintaining our steadfast commitment to solving our clients' problems by providing a unique blend of local expertise and global context.

We are the original global law firm, rooted from our inception in the respect for and appreciation of difference. As the premier global law firm, we combine deep local knowledge with seamless international reach. Our lawyers work fluently across borders, cultures, and practices, operating with a one-team mentality that brings together colleagues from different countries, practices, and levels. We're serious about making a positive difference—not just to our clients, but to the communities we're part of and the wider world.

We advise domestic and multinational companies on their most complex commercial questions across a comprehensive range of practices. Our expertise spans mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, capital markets, dispute resolution, employment law, intellectual property, tax, international trade, sustainability and ESG, and much more. As the leading cross-border firm, our more than 700 lawyers in North America alone represent clients in some of the world's most significant legal matters. We deliver integrated solutions that help clients navigate regulatory complexity, identify commercial opportunities, and manage risk across borders.

We believe the law firm of the future must provide high-quality legal advice while demonstrating its own commitment to responsible business practices. For us, acting with purpose means embedding sustainability across our operations as we work to build a sustainable future for our clients, our people, our communities, and our planet. We're dedicated to the sustainable success of our clients, our people, and the communities we're part of, partnering with like-minded organizations to advance shared goals and amplify our collective impact.

Client-centricity is at our core—we put our clients first, delivering real value by anticipating their needs and protecting their interests. Collaboration is key to our success; we operate with a one-team mentality across geographic borders and different practices. We're truly international in our outlook while understanding the value of local expertise. We celebrate individuality and foster a culture of respect and collaboration, encouraging our people to bring their whole selves to Baker McKenzie. These values, mindset, and behaviors define what makes us Baker McKenzie.

We combine local experience with international reach, and deep practice expertise with industry knowledge. Our integrated solutions and seamless advice help clients deliver business objectives while mitigating risk in an increasingly interconnected global business environment. We simplify legal complexity, foresee risks, and identify commercial opportunities that others may overlook. As the leading cross-border firm, we bring specialized knowledge across entire value chains and sectors, with the ability to coordinate advice across multiple jurisdictions and practices seamlessly.

We apply the same rigor to advancing our own sustainability strategy as we do to advising our clients, holding ourselves to the same high standards we recommend to them. Our B-Green program measures our carbon footprint and sets goals to reduce it while fostering other sustainable initiatives. We're committed to reducing our environmental footprint and integrating sustainable practices into our daily operations. As a longstanding active participant of the UN Global Compact, we uphold its Ten Principles on human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption, demonstrating our dedication to responsible business practices.

Through our pro bono work, we engage teams of problem-solvers on the most compelling social justice challenges around the globe. Our teams work on behalf of leading non-profits, public policy institutions, and international NGOs, engaging in direct representation, impact litigation, policy and advocacy work, and building new legal resources. We've launched groundbreaking initiatives like the Global Disability Legislation Index in collaboration with the Valuable 500, and we support programs advancing gender-sensitive access to justice worldwide. Our 75th anniversary 'Make a Difference Month' demonstrated our deep commitment to local communities globally.

As the first truly global law firm, our origins are rooted in the respect for and appreciation of difference. Inclusion, diversity, and equity are foundational to our culture, values, and strategic vision. We're committed to providing a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture for all employees, fostering an environment where individuals of every ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, and working style may succeed professionally. We've earned top recognition including the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index for 13 consecutive years and the Stonewall Gold Award. Our affinity groups—BakerWomen, BakerEthnicity, BakerPride+Allies, BakerOpportunity, BakerDisability, and BakerWellbeing—play active roles in advancing workplace inclusion.