What McCarter & English does

McCarter & English, LLP is a full-service US law firm founded in 1845 and headquartered in Newark, New Jersey. The firm employs 473+ lawyers and professionals and operates 12 offices across the Eastern and Midwestern United States, including Newark, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Wilmington, Hartford, Stamford, East Brunswick, Trenton, Miami, and Indianapolis. The firm serves mid-market to large corporations, government contractors, and technology and life sciences companies across 35+ practice areas spanning corporate transactions (M&A, capital markets, private equity, fund formation), business litigation (antitrust, securities, class actions, appellate), intellectual property (patents, trademarks, Hatch-Waxman), cybersecurity and data privacy, government contracts and global trade, labor and employment, real estate, bankruptcy and restructuring, and emerging areas including artificial intelligence, blockchain and digital currencies, and cannabis regulation.

The firm's core technology platform is a conventional law firm technology stack, with no disclosed proprietary AI products, patents, or published models. Internal technology leadership is provided by a Chief Information & Innovation Officer, and the firm holds SOC (Service Organization Control) certification. The business model is traditional professional services: revenue is generated through hourly rates, fixed fees, contingency arrangements, and alternative fee arrangements negotiated on a client-by-client basis. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-based, with attorneys accessed directly by clients across the firm's office network. The firm pursues growth through a combination of lateral partner recruitment and boutique acquisitions, notably the 2024 acquisition of Connecticut IP boutique Harrington & Smith and the 2025 acquisition of NYC securities and corporate boutique Ross Law Group, both of which were integrated as wholly owned subsidiaries under their existing brands. The firm has been recognized for client service (BTI Client Service A-Team 2026), diversity leadership (Mansfield Certified, Law360 Ceiling Smasher, Bloomberg Law DEI Framework), and pro bono work, and achieved a record revenue year in 2021.

Name

McCarter & English

Legal name

McCarter & English, LLP

Website

https://mccarter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1845

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

McCarter & English is a full-service US law firm with 473+ lawyers and 12 offices across the Eastern US, serving mid-market to large corporations, government contractors, and technology companies across corporate, litigation, IP, and regulatory practice areas. Founded in 1845 and headquartered in Newark, NJ.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

M&A Advisory (Buy-side/Sell-side) (BPAHADAC)

Keywords

• Legal advisory services
• Business litigation
• Corporate transactions
• Intellectual property law
• Regulatory compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Legal Services: Traditional legal services billed through hourly rates, fixed fees, contingency arrangements, and alternative fee arrangements depending on practice area and client needs. Core revenue from litigation, corporate transactions, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

McCarter & English is a full-service law firm providing comprehensive legal counsel to corporate, government, and institutional clients across 35+ practice areas. Core offerings include Corporate transactions (capital markets, M&A, private equity, fund formation), Business Litigation (antitrust, securities, class actions, appellate), Intellectual Property (patents, trademarks, Hatch-Waxman litigation), Cybersecurity & Data Privacy, Government Contracts & Global Trade, Labor & Employment, Real Estate, and Bankruptcy & Restructuring. Services are billed through hourly rates, fixed fees, contingency arrangements, and alternative fee arrangements delivered by 473+ professionals across 12 offices.

Product overview

McCarter & English is a full-service law firm operating as a multi-practice area platform providing comprehensive legal services to corporate clients. The firm offers numerous distinct practice areas spanning corporate transactions, litigation, regulatory compliance, and specialized industry sectors. Core practice areas include Corporate (with Capital Markets, M&A, Private Equity), Business Litigation (antitrust, securities, class actions), Intellectual Property (patents, trademarks, Hatch-Waxman litigation), and Cybersecurity & Data Privacy. The portfolio also includes specialized services such as Artificial Intelligence legal counsel, Blockchain/Digital Currencies, Government Contracts, Technology Transactions, and industry-focused practices for Healthcare, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and Energy. The firm structure consists of practice group chairs leading specialized teams across multiple office locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Legal Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved record revenue year in 2021 despite pandemic conditions
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Harrington & SmithcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2024Acquisition of Connecticut-based IP boutique Harrington & Smith, expanding McCarter's high-tech patent practice and expertise in the technology industry. Strategic expansion in Fairfield County area.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP: Mid-Atlantic focused firm with strong presence in Philadelphia/Baltimore/NJ - comparable practice mix across corporate, real estate, labor, and litigation.
• Fox Rothschild LLP: National full-service law firm of comparable size (~1,000 lawyers, ~30 offices) with East Coast roots and similar multi-practice coverage including corporate, IP, and litigation. Closely comparable scale and business model.
• Day Pitney LLP: East Coast full-service firm with strong New Jersey/Connecticut presence, private client/corporate/energy practices - direct geographic and practice-area competitor to McCarter's flagship offices.
• Lowenstein Sandler LLP: Newark-headquartered full-service firm of similar size, competing directly in NJ/NY market for corporate, litigation, and IP matters - the closest head-to-head competitor.
• Blank Rome LLP: Philadelphia-based full-service firm (~600 lawyers) with comparable East Coast office footprint and similar multi-practice offering across litigation, corporate, and IP.
• Drinker Biddle & Reath (now Faegre Drinker): Former Philadelphia-based mid-size firm that merged with Faegre & Benson to become a national player - benchmark for McCarter's likely expansion trajectory.
• Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP: National full-service firm of similar scale with strong IP practice - particularly comparable given McCarter's recent Harrington & Smith acquisition expanding its IP capabilities.
• Choate Hall & Stewart LLP: Boston-based full-service firm - comparable regional mid-size firm with similar practice mix, particularly in corporate and IP for technology and life sciences clients.

Broad incumbents

• Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Larger national full-service firm (~2,500 lawyers) with overlapping practice areas - the bulge-bracket incumbent whose eastward mid-market encroachment is a structural threat to McCarter.
• Reed Smith LLP: Global full-service firm with strong East Coast presence (NY, Princeton, Philadelphia) - larger peer competing for similar mid-market corporate clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mccarterenglish
• Facebookfacebook.com/mccarterandenglish

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about McCarter & English