Our values

Our firm shares a vision: to become the number one international law firm; the firm that is widely recognised as standing apart, for the quality of our advice and for our unswerving commitment to our clients.

But it’s not just our legal advice and client service that set us apart.

It’s the way we work with our clients, other firms and each other, our character and our values.

Our values capture a shared sense of what’s important to us and what you can expect from us, whether you’re a client or colleague.

We go above and beyond

We never stop looking for the best solution. We understand our clients – that’s our focus. And we find ways through the legal problems they face. We don’t give up easily; if there’s a way, we’ll find it. We will tackle a client’s challenges as if they were our own and aim to build enduring relationships.

We keep it simple

We cut through complexity to provide clear, precise and insightful answers. We balance the big picture with what our clients need to know, now.

We’re composed

No matter how stressful the situation, we stay focused. Grace under pressure, teamwork, consideration and humour are essential to the way we work.

We’re forward-thinking and intellectually rigorous

We think ahead and anticipate issues before they become problems. And we apply our passion for the law and our interest in the world at large for the benefit of clients, colleagues and the wider community.

We work as one team

Our impact is greater when we combine energies. We work as one team – with clients, other law firms, advisers and each other – managing clients’ issues efficiently, anywhere in the world.

Our history

We were formed in 2000 through the three-way merger of Freshfields with Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund (Germany) and Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber (Germany/Austria).

This merger of equals combined the three firms' renowned reputations and hundreds of years of experience (dating back to 1743 in the UK and 1840 in Germany) with the shared ambition to become the world's leading international law firm.

Now, we’re one firm with shared values and a shared culture. Where every client receives the same exceptional service in every part of the world.

China

We have one of the most experienced PRC teams of any international law firm due, in part, to our longstanding presence in greater China. Our Hong Kong office opened in 1985 and we opened offices in Beijing and Shanghai in 1993.

LLP conversion

Since 1 May 2008, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has converted its business and assets to an English limited liability partnership (LLP). This means client relationships are with the new LLP, rather than its partners, and the LLP is responsible to clients for all work.

This change affects all our offices except those in Hong Kong, Japan and the US, where clients continue to deal with our Hong Kong or Japanese entities or our US LLP.