Edwards Gibson Featured in City A.M. Exclusive: “Big Four: The slow death of KPMG, EY, PwC and Deloitte’s legal dream”

We are pleased to share that Edwards Gibson has been prominently featured in City A.M.'s recent article titled "Big Four: The slow death of KPMG, EY, PwC and Deloitte’s legal dream," authored by Maria Ward-Brennan. This article examines the challenges faced by the Big Four accounting firms, EY, PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG, in establishing a strong presence within the UK legal market. ​

Our director, Scott Gibson, provided key insights into the hiring and retention trends of these firms. He noted that, excluding Deloitte's acquisition of the 27-partner TMT boutique Kemp Little in 2021, the combined legal divisions of the Big Four hired 35 partners in London between 2019 and 2024. However, during the same period, these firms experienced the departure of 40 serving partners to rival law firms, including two-thirds of the lateral hires made during that time. ​

The article also highlights recent developments at EY Law, including the announcement of approximately 30 job cuts in its legal department. This follows previous reductions, such as the closure of EY Riverview Law in December 2023 and the departure of nearly a dozen lawyers to the City office of Hunton Andrews Kurth. ​

These trends underscore the complexities and challenges the Big Four face in their efforts to compete within the legal sector.​

Read the full City A.M. article here.