Gowling WLG
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- David Fennell (Chief Executive, UK)
- Steve McKersie (CEO, Canada)
 | |
| No. of offices | +20 |
|---|---|
| No. of lawyers | +1,500 [1] |
| Key people |
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| Date founded | 2016 |
| Company type | Company limited by guarantee; separate limited liability partnerships in Canada and the United Kingdom |
| Website | www |
Gowling WLG is a multinational business law firm with approximately 1500 lawyers working across 10 countries. As of 2025, it is the largest law firm in Canada, the 15th largest in the UK, and the 88th largest in the world by revenue.
Gowling WLG was formed in 2016 through the combination of Canada-based Gowlings and UK-based Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, whose predecessor firms date back to 1887 and 1834 respectively. The firm offers comprehensive legal services across key global sectors including life sciences, financial services, energy, infrastructure, government, technology, real estate, natural resources, and automotive.
Gowling WLG is consistently recognised as a market leader, earning top-tier rankings in Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 across multiple practice areas, with Band 1 positions in construction, intellectual property, corporate, and energy. Its global IP strength is underscored by Tier 1 placements in Managing IP’s IP Stars and wins at the Global IP Awards for patent and trademark work. The firm is also celebrated for its workplace culture, maintaining Great Place to Work® certification for over two decades and ranking among the UK’s Best Workplaces™.
Gowling WLG (UK) LLP acted as Official Legal Advisers and an Official Sponsor of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as well as Team England.
Legal structure
Gowling WLG International Limited is an English company limited by guarantee comprising two limited liability partnerships: Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP and Gowling WLG (UK) LLP. Legal services are provided by the two partnerships, which are financially separate.[2] The structure is similar to the Swiss Verein structure used by several other major international law firms.[3]
Offices
The firm has more than 20 offices across Canada, the UK, continental Europe, the Middle East, and China.[4] The firm also maintained an office in Russia until the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, after which Gowling joined other businesses in departing the Russian market.
