Simpson Thacher

Lawyers 1,281
Turnover Not disclosed
Offices 11

This US-based firm has operated in London since 1978 and has offices worldwide, including in Silicon Valley, New York City and Washington DC.

This year it obtained the largest jury award for withholding mail from a prisoner in US history. A prison worker had withheld its client’s mail for nearly nine months in 2007 and 2008. The 56-year-old man — represented pro bono by the firm — had not received letters setting critical court deadlines to appeal against his 54-year sentence and family letters letting him know that his father was dying, and that he should try to call home one last time. The client’s father died four days before his delayed mail was delivered. The jury awarded $475,000 damages.