The boutique that beat the Magic Circle: How Quinn Emanuel built the most successful litigation practice in London

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The Non-Billable Podcast

Non-Billable

20 episodes

6 days ago

The Non-Billable Podcast takes UK legal professionals beyond the billable hour, bringing you interviews with top lawyers, law firm leaders, industry experts and legal tech innovators to uncover actionable insights on the business of law, career growth and the future of the industry. Hosted by Oliver Attinger, a former finance lawyer at a leading City law firm with in-house experience at an investment bank - now asking the questions he wished he had when he was practising. Brought to you by Non-Billable, the go-to newsletter for City lawyers, in-house counsel, and legal professionals.

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The boutique that beat the Magic Circle: How Quinn Emanuel built the most successful litigation practice in London

The Non-Billable Podcast

40 minutes 47 seconds

1 month ago

The boutique that beat the Magic Circle: How Quinn Emanuel built the most successful litigation practice in London

In this episode, we sit down with Richard East, the founding partner of Quinn Emanuel’s London office - the litigation powerhouse that has gone from a 2008 startup to one of the UK’s most profitable disputes firms, with revenues topping £220 million last year. Richard shares how he built the practice from scratch during the height of the financial crisis.

We discuss Quinn Emanuel’s distinctive model: no corporate teams, no panels, no conflicts - and no apologies about taking on the banks. Richard explains why that singular focus has been so powerful, and how the firm’s “door-to-door” approach to marketing - cold-calling and in-person meetings - helped them land early clients that fuelled their growth.

Richard also opens up about recruiting and compensation, including why Quinn refuses to follow the Cravath scale, why they pay comfortably above Magic Circle firms, and why entrepreneurial mindset is non-negotiable for new partners. He describes a culture that rewards independence and drive - and expects associates to own cases, not just take instructions.

We wrap up with Richard’s thoughts on competition, the evolution of the Magic Circle, and what comes next. He shares why he sees massive potential in using AI to stay ahead, why he isn’t afraid of giant mergers, and why after 17 years he still feels like there’s much more to build.

Chapters

00:40 Launching Quinn Emanuel London in 2008

04:00 Building a Litigation-Only Practice from Scratch

07:20 Marketing that Actually Works: Cold-Calling and Door-to-Door Meetings

11:00 Winning Early Clients During the Financial Crisis

14:40 How the Firm Thinks About Talent and Compensation

20:00 Culture, Independence, and Entrepreneurial DNA

24:30 Perspectives on the Magic Circle and Big Law Competitors

29:30 The Role of AI and the Future of Litigation

33:40 Leadership Lessons from 17 Years at the Helm

36:30 Ambition for the Next Chapter

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Non-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals across private practice, in-house and legal tech.

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