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Attorneys in China - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld Beijing, China Last Updated: May 2024 7421

Revenue

$17.0bn

2024

$17.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

375k

Businesses

19,411

Wages

$X.Xbn

Attorneys in China industry analysis

Revenue for the Attorneys industry in China is expected to increase at an annualized 3.1% over the five years through 2024, to $17.0 billion. This trend includes anticipated growth of 5.1% in the current year. Employee numbers and wages have also risen over the period. The number of law firm enterprises in China has increased from 18,180 in 2019 to an estimated 19,411 in 2024. Over 70% of law firms in China are partnerships that provide legal services in civil, commercial and criminal matters.
The Attorneys industry in China is highly profitable, with profitability estimated to account for 21.0% of industry revenue in 2024. Major law firms are able to achieve higher profits due to their good reputations and high-quality customer service.
Most law firms are located in China's major cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, where many client businesses are established, and large corporate clients are headquartered. Increasing merger and acquisition activities have promoted the industry's development. Large Chinese law firms are expanding their international business through partnerships with foreign law firms. Some have established offices in foreign countries. Additionally, people in China are gradually becoming more aware of the importance of legal services. In particular, growing demand for civil legal services has encouraged more attorneys to enter that segment of the industry. With the improvement of law services, fees for services have risen correspondingly.
In recent years, promoted by the increase of the people's awareness of law and the rapid development of China's economy, the demand for legal services have increased rapidly. At the same time, in the context of deepening the reform of the government's legal system, Attorneys in China has received more and more attention in the country's political and economic life and will also usher in more standardized and stricter supervision.
Industry revenue is forecast to grow at an annualized 4.2% over the next five years through 2029, to total $20.9 billion. Non-litigious legal services, including services for merger and acquisitions (M&A), bankruptcies and initial public offerings (IPOs), are anticipated to become increasingly important revenue drivers for law firms over the period.

Trends and Insights

  • The industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualized 3.1% over the five years through 2024. Promoted by the increase of the people's awareness of law and the development of China's economy, the demand for legal services have increased.
  • With the development of the domestic economy and the continuous strengthening of people's legal awareness, the overall lawyer service incidents in China continue to rise. Among them, the commercial legal services is the largest segment in the Attorneys in China.
  • Industry activity is highly concentrated in coastal provincial areas. Beijing, Guangdong and Shanghai contribute most to industry revenue. These areas are the most economically developed regions in China.
  • Law firms mainly compete with each other in terms of reputation, quality of service and knowledge of their client's business. Industry participants try to enhance their service quality by hiring and retaining the best staff at all levels.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $17.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Increasing awareness of people's rights has promoted an increase in the demand for legal services

  • In recent years, promoted by the increase of the people's awareness of law and the rapid development of China's economy, the demand for legal services have increased rapidly.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Attorneys in China
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Growing cooperation between China and other countries will likely add to the demand for professional law services

  • With the deepening of China's opening up and economic globalization, the cooperation and disputes between players are more diverse and complex.

Biggest companies in the Attorneys in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Dacheng Law Firm
3,389.2
King & Wood Mallesons
1,435.8
Yingke Law Firm
1,369.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 9 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Attorneys in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Commercial legal services, Civil legal services and Criminal legal services. Commercial legal services is the largest segment of the Attorneys in China.

Trends and Insights

Commercial legal services is the largest segment in the Attorneys in China

  • Commercial legal services mainly refer to services for commercial disputes, litigation and arbitration.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Attorneys industry in China comprises independent establishments providing specialized legal and paralegal services, including law firms, legal aid offices and legal agents. Notarization, conciliation, arbitration or legal services provided by in-house legal teams are not included in this report.

What's included in this industry?

Commercial legal servicesCivil legal servicesCriminal legal servicesNon-litigious legal services

Companies

Dacheng Law FirmKing & Wood MallesonsYingke Law Firm

Purchase this report to view all 9 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CONVEYANCINGMISAPPROPRIATIONINITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING (IPO)

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualized 3.1% over the five years through 2024. Promoted by the increase of the people's awareness of law and the development...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

With the development of the domestic economy and the continuous strengthening of people's legal awareness, the overall lawyer service incidents in China continue to rise. Amo...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Industry activity is highly concentrated in coastal provincial areas. Beijing, Guangdong and Shanghai contribute most to industry revenue. These areas are the most economical...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Law firms mainly compete with each other in terms of reputation, quality of service and knowledge of their client's business. Industry participants try to enhance their servi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Attorneys in China will continue to maintain a rapid development trend. Major law firms will pay more attention to improving service quality, brand building, and digital tran...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Dacheng Law Firm's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of King & Wood Mallesons's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Yingke Law Firm's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 6 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Dacheng Law Firm, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for King & Wood Mallesons, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Yingke Law Firm, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 6 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The level of regulation is heavy. In recent years, state council has launched many new laws and regulations to strengthen domestic legal construction.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Cost structures vary based on the size and specialization of a particular firm. As a service industry, the Attorneys industry in China is characterized by large labor costs a...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Attorneys industry in China in 2024?

The market size of the Attorneys industry in China is $17.0bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Attorneys in China industry in 2024?

There are 19,411 businesses in the Attorneys industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Attorneys industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Attorneys industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 5.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Attorneys industry in China over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Attorneys industry in China is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Attorneys market in China?

The biggest companies operating in the Attorneys market in China are Dacheng Law Firm, King & Wood Mallesons and Yingke Law Firm

What does the Attorneys in China include?

Commercial legal services and Civil legal services are part of the Attorneys industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Attorneys in China?

The company holding the most market share in China is Dacheng Law Firm.

How competitive is the Attorneys industry in China?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Attorneys industry in China.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in China include:

  • National Bureau of Statistics China
  • General Administration of Customs
  • People’s Bank of China

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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