Early 2025 has been a period of contrasts for the largest U.S. law firms, showcasing robust financial results amid increasingly uncertain economic conditions.
A new report from the Thomson Reuters Institute paints a complex picture, highlighting the resilience and potential vulnerabilities of Big Law as firms navigate economic headwinds and shifting client demands.
The Law Firm Financial Index from Thomson Reuters indicated a notable dip in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting declining demand in January and February. However, a sharp rebound occurred in March, driven by increased litigation and deal activity connected directly to former President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs—commonly described as the renewed "trade war." This surge in legal activity helped firms recover from an otherwise slow start, demonstrating the sector’s remarkable adaptability.
This late-quarter recovery propped up revenue figures and partially counteracted early declines in productivity.
Despite the volatile start, law firms have managed to maintain strong financial positions, as evidenced by the recently released 2025 Am Law 100 rankings.
The Am Law report revealed total gross revenue soaring to a record-breaking $158.3 billion—a significant 13.3% increase compared to the previous year. Profitability metrics have similarly reached historic highs, suggesting that Big Law has entered this challenging period with substantial financial strength.
Yet, industry analysts remain cautious.
While the immediate uptick driven by trade-related legal work has offered temporary relief, the longer-term outlook is far less certain. Ongoing trade tensions, though presently beneficial for generating legal demand, will pose significant risks to law firms’ stability if broader economic instability takes root later in the year.
Law firm leaders now face the difficult task of balancing their firms’ recent financial success with the need to prepare for potential economic downturns. Rising client price-sensitivity, coupled with macroeconomic uncertainty, will pose significant hurdles for sustaining the current growth trajectory.
The early 2025 financial reports underscore an important lesson for Big Law: financial strength today does not guarantee future security. While the pipeline for legal services currently appears strong, there are no guarantees in such a dynamic environment.
