Paul Hastings LLP, formerly known as Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, is an international law firm with 22 offices worldwide. Paul Hastings serves a diverse client base that includes many of the top financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies. Originally known as a California based firm focusing on labor and employment, the firm now has wide-ranging work in many practice areas and sectors throughout the globe. It is one of the largest law firms in the United States, with over $1.22 billion of revenue in 2018.
History
Paul Hastings' first office was founded in Los Angeles in 1951 by Lee Paul, Robert Hastings, and Leonard Janofsky. The firm's expansion beyond Los Angeles was part of the founders' vision for the firm. In 1974, Paul Hastings first ventured outside of Los Angeles to nearby Orange County, California. From there, the firm continued to expand its size and geographic reach to better meet the needs of clients. In the 1970s, Paul Hastings began moving into the Asia-Pacific region, gaining a foothold by helping Japanese clients set up US operations, distribution, and joint ventures. In the following decade, the firm opened its Tokyo office, performing M&A and financing work for clients in the region as well as picking up new Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese clients.
Rankings
Paul Hastings ranked 1st two years in a row in The American Lawyers 2014 and 2015 A-List of the 20 most successful law firms in America. The firm was also ranked 2nd overall in a list of the top 40 most innovative law firms in the Financial Times US Innovative Lawyers 2013 report. Paul Hastings has grown to become one of only two US firms founded after 1950 to reach the top 15 in the US. The firm was recognized by Law360 as a Pro Bono Firm of the Year in 2013 and ranked 1st in the 2013 AmLaw Associate Tech Survey. Paul Hastings also ranked first as the Overall Best Firm to Work For by Vault.com. Paul Hastings was one of the first US firms in Asia, and today maintains offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, and Tokyo. Additionally, Paul Hastings has a strong presence in Europe, with offices in key locations such as Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Milan, and Paris. Paul Hastings opened an office in 2016 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The European practice advises clients across the continent on matters of French, German, Italian, UK, US, and EU law and regulation. One of the firm's major practice areas is acting as designated lender counsel in private equity buyouts.
