Silver Circle (law)

The Silver Circle (sometimes referred to as the Golden Circle) refers to elite England-based law firms which fall outside of the traditional Magic Circle. The term was coined by "The Lawyer" magazine in 2005, but has since entered general usage. The term Golden Circle is less commonly used (although the term is reportedly employed by "The Economist", a leading British weekly magazine).

Silver Circle vs Magic Circle

It has been suggested that the difference between the Silver Circle and the Magic Circle is that the Silver Circle services a premium UK client base, whereas the Magic Circle has a more international reach. However, that is clearly difficult to square when firms such as Herbert Smith (considered by Legal Business magazine as part of the Magic Circle), DLA Piper and Mayer Brown may be considered Silver Circle members.

Interpretations of Silver Circle members

As with all arbitrary categorisations of merit, there is some disagreement as to who makes up the Silver Circle. However, the most restrictive interpretation of the Silver Circle limits it to: [http://www.thelawyer.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=134611]
* Ashurst
* Herbert Smith
* Macfarlanes
* Travers Smith
* Berwin Leighton Paisner
* SJ Berwin

It can also be argued that the following firms with large international practices:Fact|date=September 2008
* Norton Rose
* Lovells
* Simmons & Simmons

Others suggest a wider array of firms, including:
* Bird & Bird
* Clyde & Co
* CMS Cameron McKenna
* DLA Piper
* LG (formerly Lawrence Graham)
* Mayer Brown
* Pinsent Masons
* Taylor Wessing
* Wragge & Co

and even possibly also:
* Addleshaw Goddard
* Denton Wilde Sapte
* Eversheds
* Nabarro
* Olswang

As with most self-awarded titles for law firms, "Silver Circle" tends to be used only in recruiting and marketing material. A wealth of data is published every year on financial performance of law firms, and categorisations are in reality a matter largely of perception.

It has to be said that candidate firms for the Silver Circle generally avoid using the term themselves - at least in public - but it is sometimes mentioned by headhunters to tempt prospective job candidates.

Geographical scope

The list is entirely English-oriented. Leading Scottish firms such as Dickson Minto have comparable profits per equity partner of any firm listed in the Silver Circle, but are never traditionally considered as forming part of the list.

Related phrases

*Magic circle, seen as the five (or six) top law firms in the United Kingdom; also used to describe the top four Commercial Chambers at the Bar
*Global Quartet or Big Four, referring to members of the Circle (law)|Magic Circle other than Slaughter and May as it has, in general, not pursued a policy of international expansion
*White shoe firms or Charmed Circle, referring to law firms perceived to be the leading New York City law firms
*Seven Sisters, referring to the seven Canadian law firms considered to be the top tier
*Big Six, referring to six Australian law firms perceived to be the top tier

ee also

* List of largest UK law firms

External links

* [http://www.thelawyer.com/uk100/2005/intro.html Article in "The Lawyer" introducing the "Silver Circle"]
* [http://www.rollonfriday.com/insideinfo.htm RollOnFriday's Inside Info on London law firms]