Our legacy spans centuries, but the past 50 years have shaped who we are – marked by expansion, integration, and bold decisions. Freshfields has evolved from an international firm to a fully integrated global powerhouse, positioned at the heart of the world’s most important markets. Today, we’re defining what’s next.

From foundations to frontiers (1743–1999)

From our earliest days, we’ve built enduring relationships and established strong foundations in key commercial centres – laying the groundwork for a firm shaped by international perspectives and cross-border collaboration.

As businesses expanded across borders, so did we – establishing a presence in Europe, the US, and Asia to provide seamless, coordinated legal support. But growth wasn’t just about opening offices; it was about creating a firm that could operate across multiple jurisdictions with one voice.

During this period, Freshfields became a leader in cross-border transactions, competition law, corporate transformation and dispute resolution, helping clients navigate complex regulatory landscapes and seize new opportunities. By the end of the millennium, we had evolved from a firm with international reach to a fully integrated global practice, built to meet the demands of rapidly changing economies.

A truly global firm (2000–2025)

As globalisation accelerated, Freshfields became a critical partner for businesses operating across markets. Our landmark 2000 merger formalised Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as a firm without borders.

Over the next 25 years, we strengthened our US platform, expanded into tech hubs like Silicon Valley and deepened our presence in the Middle East, positioning ourselves at the centre of the world’s most influential financial and regulatory landscapes. But expansion alone wasn’t enough – we built an integrated, forward-looking firm designed to help clients lead through change, not just respond to it.