Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

What Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP does

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP is a global law firm formed in 2024 through the trans-Atlantic merger of UK-based Herbert Smith Freehills and US-based Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP (founded 1968). The combined entity employs over 2,700 lawyers and generates approximately $2 billion in revenue, operating from a global network of offices with New York serving as a key hub for Americas operations, including major M&A financing and corporate matters. The firm serves large corporations, multinationals, banks, and alternative investment firms requiring legal support for complex cross-border transactions and disputes.

The firm's core services span corporate/M&A and transactions, private capital, dispute resolution, energy, real estate, data centres, and bankruptcy/restructuring, delivered through senior partner-led engagement with dedicated deal teams on individual mandates. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated per engagement, typically billed hourly or at fixed fees, consistent with traditional professional services revenue mechanics. In 2025 the firm appointed a chief AI officer and began rolling out AI-powered tools, including Palantir-powered platforms, for document processing, research, and workflow automation, positioning technology as an efficiency layer rather than a standalone product. Thought-leadership distribution is executed through HSF Kramer Notes, a Subscribe newsletter, and event participation.

Recent mandate flow illustrates the firm's positioning at the upper end of the legal services market, including advisory work on arranging-bank financing for GSK plc's US$10.6 billion proposed acquisition of Nuvalent Inc. and representation of a large alternative investment firm on a $1.1 billion consumer loan acquisition financing. The firm also maintains arts and culture partnerships with the National Portrait Gallery, London and the Art Gallery of New South Wales under its Partnerships in Portraiture initiative. Combined, these signals describe a full-service global law firm leveraging post-merger scale and emerging technology investment to defend and extend its position in complex cross-border legal mandates.

Name

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Legal name

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Website

https://kramerlevin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a global law firm formed by the 2024 merger of Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin, employing 2,700+ lawyers to serve multinational corporations, financial institutions, and alternative investment firms across M&A, financing, disputes, and restructuring matters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Securities Law (BPAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side) (BPAHAOAA), Cross-Border M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAH)

Keywords

• Legal advisory services
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Dispute resolution
• Bankruptcy restructuring
• Corporate transactions

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Fees: Traditional law firm revenue through billable hours for legal advisory, transaction support, dispute resolution, and counsel services. Clients include large corporations, financial institutions, and alternative investment firms engaged in complex M&A, financing, and litigation matters.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP is a New York-based law firm founded in 1968 that delivers legal advisory and representation services to corporations, institutions, and individuals. Its core practice areas include corporate/M&A transactions, dispute resolution, energy, real estate, data centres, and bankruptcy/restructuring. The firm merged with Herbert Smith Freehills in 2024 to form Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, a global platform with over 2,700 lawyers and approximately $2 billion in revenue.

Product overview

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a global law firm resulting from the 2024 merger of Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, forming an entity with over 2,700 lawyers and approximately $2 billion in revenue. The firm operates as a unified platform offering comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas including corporate/M&A transactions, dispute resolution, energy, real estate, data centres, and bankruptcy/restructuring. The practice areas function as integrated service lines rather than distinct product modules, supplemented by thought leadership content through the HSF Kramer Notes blog platform. The firm is in the process of adopting AI technologies including Palantir-powered tools with a newly appointed chief AI officer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate / M&A Transactions Legal advisory on cross-border M&A, private capital, financing, and corporate transactions for large corporations, financial institutions, and alternative investment firms.
• Dispute Resolution Litigation, arbitration, and cross-border dispute resolution services for corporate and institutional clients.
• Energy Legal services for energy sector clients covering regulatory, transactional, and project matters.
• Real Estate Legal services for property transactions, development projects, and real estate-related matters.
• Data Centres Legal services for data centre operations and telecommunications infrastructure clients.
• Bankruptcy and Restructuring Restructuring and bankruptcy legal services for distressed companies, creditors, and related parties.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• National Portrait Gallery, LondonminorOthersArtistic partnership connecting art, identity and access. The firm partners with the National Portrait Gallery, London to support cultural initiatives and access programs.
• Art Gallery of New South WalesminorOthersPartnership with the Art Gallery of New South Wales as part of the Partnerships in Portraiture initiative, connecting art, identity and access through collaborative programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• A&O Shearman: Formed from the 2024 merger of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling, directly comparable to HSF Kramer as a recent transatlantic combination targeting the same cross-border M&A and finance mandate pool.
• Clifford Chance LLP: Global Magic Circle law firm with comparable cross-border M&A, finance, and dispute resolution practices. Directly competes for the same multinational and financial institution clients on complex cross-border matters.
• Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP: Elite US M&A and corporate finance firm. Direct competitor for large US-led M&A, securities, and financing transactions, particularly for Fortune 500 and financial institution clients.
• Linklaters LLP: Magic Circle firm with deep cross-border M&A, banking, and capital markets practices. Closely comparable in geography (strong UK/US), client base (multinationals and financial institutions), and deal-type mix.
• Kirkland & Ellis LLP: Largest law firm by revenue globally with dominant private equity M&A and restructuring practices. Direct competitor for high-value US M&A and a benchmark for top-of-market profitability.
• Latham & Watkins LLP: Global elite US-headquartered firm with leading M&A, finance, and energy practices. Direct competitor for US-led cross-border deals and the highest-value corporate transactions globally.
• Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz: Elite US M&A firm renowned for the largest US public company transactions. Direct competitor at the top end of the US M&A market and a benchmark for highest realization rates in the industry.
• Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP: Elite US firm with leading M&A, finance, and restructuring practices. Direct competitor for high-end US M&A and capital markets mandates, particularly for financial institution and large-cap clients.
• Sullivan & Cromwell LLP: Premier US M&A and financial institutions law firm. Direct competitor for the largest US M&A, securities offerings, and cross-border transactions, with overlapping financial institution client base.
• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP: Magic Circle firm with strong M&A, finance, and disputes practices. Direct competitor for high-end cross-border mandates and a benchmark for elite global law firm economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kramerlevin
• Facebookfacebook.com/KramerLevinNaftalisFrankelLlp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/15471

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP