2022
Annual Review

What's inside

Highlights of our work, insights, achievements, programs and initiatives in a year that brought new challenges

A message from our Chair

Hugh Verrier

Hugh Verrier
Chair

In 2022 uncertainty took hold as inflation, volatile markets and a geopolitical conflict added to the challenges set in motion by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a world of shifting expectations and norms, we focused on creating a distinctive experience for our clients, consistent with the five-year strategy we launched in 2020. This North Star guided our global teams as they developed and executed innovative solutions on high-stakes deals, disputes and pro bono matters.

Our client work placed us at the center of global trends related to energy transition, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, finance and globalization. We contributed to the dialogue on these issues with published insights including “Scaling up the energy transition,” a report based on a survey that explores how capital providers and companies are setting priorities, staying competitive and managing risk. Through our COP27 video series, we explored themes raised during the annual climate conference and their potential impact on business and industry.

In regions around the world, we increased our capacity to serve clients, promoting 59 new partners and welcoming 39 lateral partners. We developed new ways of working with clients, increasing efficiencies and ensuring consistency. These initiatives included our Debt Finance Solutions Team, which leverages legal technology and other resources to handle certain types of routine work, and our Client Experience Blueprints, a series of tools that codify our global best practices for working with clients before, during and after a matter.  

We continued to focus on building a more diverse and inclusive workplace, significantly expanding our diversity data collection efforts so we can quantify our progress. Our people benefited from new and expanded coaching programs, and we took concrete steps to empower our associates, focusing on work allocation, skills development and leadership opportunities. 

This review discusses these and other accomplishments and initiatives that made a difference to our people and our clients in 2022. Together we face the future positioned for success.


Hugh Verrier, Chair

Conversations

Guest speakers at Firm events share views on timely topics

The pandemic prompted a workplace shakeup, shining a spotlight on employee wellness

Amy Blankson offers tools that can boost happiness as we enter a new world of work

Glass elevators on the side of a London office building
blue sky in my pocket © Getty Images

When it comes to solving problems, human beings have a superpower

Kenneth Cukier talks about the process that can lead to breakthroughs and help us tackle novel challenges

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Haitong Yu © Getty Images

A vast pro bono network creates global impact

Antonio Zappulla talks about how TrustLaw tackles some of the world’s biggest challenges

conversations 1 antonio zappulla
Matthias Kulka © Getty Images

Investors and energy companies pull all levers in the race to net zero

The focus on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 remained a priority for governments, investors and energy companies

energy
Richard Hamilton Smith © Getty Images

Stakeholders raise the bar on ESG

Addressing ESG factors became “the new normal” for investors and businesses

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Andriy Onufriyenko © Getty Images

Markets cool as interest rates and inflation rise

Activity across debt and M&A markets slowed as rising interest rates and high inflation saw investors, borrowers and lenders recalibrate risk appetite

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Christoph Hetzmannseder © Getty Images

Globalization: Balancing interdependencies and divisions

Around the world, legal and regulatory developments continued to reshape global interconnectedness

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Artur Debat © Getty Images

Impact

Highlights of our work in 2022

Our growth and accolades

Our achievements position us for success

Our annual revenue

 

US$2.83 billion in revenue


Our lawyers worldwide

2,616 total lawyers


1,315EMEA
1,021Americas
280Asia-Pacific

1,297US-qualified lawyers
582English-qualified lawyers

 

2022 new partners

Meet the outstanding generation of talented lawyers who strengthened our Firm in 2022

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David Ramos © Getty Images

2022 awards & rankings

In markets around the world, White & Case earned many of the legal industry’s top accolades

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Yu Kodama © Getty Images

Our responsible business practices

White & Case is committed to fair and ethical operations that respect human rights and recognize the importance of our natural environment. 

As a signatory to the UN Global Compact, we affirm our commitment to doing business responsibly by supporting the Compact’s ten principles on human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption. The steps we are taking to continue to embed these principles into our Firm are outlined in our most recent Communication on Progress.

Our latest Environmental Sustainability Report includes information on our environmental policies, footprint, key actions and goals.

 

More than five million kilowatt hours of renewable energy powered our offices
Nine of our offices procure renewable energy, accounting for approximately one-third of all electricity used globally
We track our greenhouse gas emissions annually and now include our supply chain emissions
Our London office maintains ISO 14001 certification

Diversity and inclusion

Committed to advancing diversity and inclusion across the Firm

Our diverse workplace

11 global affinity networks

Our 11 affinity networks foster a sense of community among the Firm’s Black, Asian, Latinx/Hispanic, Middle Eastern, minority ethnic and LGBTQ+ lawyers, business services professionals and their allies. Each network sets its own agenda, initiatives and goals, which are specific to the issues it considers most important. Affinity networks create and enhance awareness of these groups within the Firm and its larger culture, drive community and connection across our global offices, and support their members with career and professional development opportunities.

25 local women’s networks

Our 25 local women’s networks are active in 40 offices across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. These networks foster professional development and mentoring activities. They also provide a forum for our lawyers and business services professionals to share perspectives and create programs to support and retain our women while fostering and promoting gender equity.

 

Diversity: The numbers

Women make up:
40% of the Firm’s global management
25% of the Executive Committee
27% of our Office Executive Partners

50% of our 2022 global partner promotions
23% of global partnership
42% of our lawyers


In the US:

49%of our lawyers self-identify as of color 


28%of our partners self-identify as of color


In London:

43%of our lawyers self-identify as of color


27%of our partners self-identify as of color


Globally:

118nationalities


95languages spoken


Recognition

Leading publications and alliance organizations continue to recognize our commitment to diversity and inclusion

Number 1 Most Diverse Law Firm among top 10 US firms by revenue

The American Lawyer Diversity Scorecard 2022 (Number 2 among all firms scored)

100% rating on commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workplace equality (14th consecutive year)

Identifying the Firm as one of the best places to work for LGBT+ individuals

Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index

International Firm of the Year for Career Development, Diverse Women Lawyers, Work-Life Balance

Euromoney Legal Media Group Women in Business Awards 2022 EMEA

2022 Mansfield Certification Plus (fourth consecutive year)

Diversity Lab

Top 75 employer in the UK

Social Mobility Foundation Employer Index 2022

Measuring our progress on diversity and inclusion

Using data to create change

bird's eyeview of people
Gremlin © Getty Images

People engagement

Helping our colleagues to reach new heights

Investing in our people with global coaching programs

Committing to growth opportunities for colleagues in wide-ranging roles

skydiving
Moodboard © Getty Images

For associates: A more level playing field and greater opportunity

Recognizing the value of our lawyers as they start their careers

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Shunli Zhao © Getty Images

Collaborating with clients around the world


 

world map
6 continents
44offices
30countries
In 2022 we advised clients from 
115
countries 
on matters in 
195
countries

 

Building a better client experience

Focusing on consistent application of best practices

Building a better client experience
Sebàstian Calanzone © Getty Images

An innovation startup within the US Debt Finance practice

Leveraging technology to streamline routine work and enhance client service

Innovation
Sky Sajjaphot / 500px © Getty Images

White & Case teams up with AbbVie on Second Look Project pro bono case

Collaborating to effect change and build strong connections

AbbVie
Paul Taylor @ Getty Images
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Markets cool as interest rates and inflation rise

Article

5 min read

Activity across debt and M&A markets slowed in 2022 as rising interest rates and high inflation saw investors, borrowers and lenders recalibrate risk appetite and pull back from new transactions. The contrast to the abundant liquidity and low-cost capital that drove transactions in 2021 was stark.

Investors have responded to this intensifying market uncertainty by resetting risk thresholds and putting capital deployment plans on hold until there is more visibility on where inflation and interest rate rises will top out, and how assets will perform against a volatile backdrop.

White & Case has worked with a range of stakeholders through this turbulent period, including banks, private capital firms, listed companies and sovereigns, advising on regulation, financing deals and M&A transactions. These are some of the themes that drove capital markets activity in 2022.

M&A volumes decline as uncertainty grips

Global private equity (PE) and corporate M&A activity achieved all-time highs in 2021 and proved relatively robust through the first six months of 2022. In the second half of the year, however, activity levels stalled and challenging underlying economics impacted dealmaker confidence.

In 2022, global private equity buyout deal value dropped to its lowest level since the peak of pandemic disruption, with only 6,557 deals worth US$845.93 billion progressing in 2022, almost halving from the US$1.5 trillion of deals posted in 2021. Overall global M&A also saw steep declines, with 2022 deal value falling to US$3.81 trillion from US$5.74 trillion in 2021

Nevertheless, activity in pockets of the market remained resilient. After driving M&A in 2021, global technology deal flow sustained steady levels of activity and continued to deliver a stream of megadeals worth more than US$5 billion. Technology, media and telecom deal flow for 2022 was the second-highest annual total on record for the sector since 2006.

Certain regional markets also managed to steer through macro challenges with limited disruption. In the Middle East activity held firm, with 2022 deal numbers the third-best recorded during the last 15 years, as the region attracted strong inbound investment from overseas buyers eager to build exposure to Israel’s technology ecosystem and take advantage of sustainable infrastructure and logistics opportunities in the United Arab Emirates. 

The Japanese deal market also drew increasing interest from overseas investors, with an increase in deals to facilitate succession and shareholder pressure on Japanese companies to divest non-core assets, spurring deal flow. This saw Japanese M&A value total US$72.15 billion in 2022, up from US$65.97 billion in 2021.

Leveraged finance issuance tails off

As was the case for M&A, leveraged loan and high yield bond markets around the world faced a challenging 2022 as macroeconomic headwinds put the brakes on activity levels after a record year in 2021.

US leveraged loan issuance fell from US$1.4 trillion in 2021 to US$1.06 trillion in 2022—a 24.2 percent decline. In Europe, markets proved similarly challenged, with year-on-year loan issuance for 2022 down more than 40 percent at US$193.89 billion. High yield bond activity in the US and Europe also fell year-on-year by 77 percent and 69 percent, respectively, to US$96.50 billion and US$53.91 billion in 2022. 

Soaring inflation obliged central banks in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe to raise interest rates, making debt packages more expensive. As a result, borrowers avoided refinancing unless absolutely necessary, while lenders preferred to buy up existing credits at deep discounts to face value rather than back refinancings, eating into headline issuance numbers.

Western buyout and M&A financing did show some resilience over the first half of 2022 but declining private equity and corporate deal activity in the second half of the year saw PE and corporate-related issuance tail off, too.  

In the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan) (APAC), inflationary pressures were less acute, but high yield bond and loan issuance across the region also dropped, with ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in China, the region’s largest market, and dislocation in the key real estate sector weighing down activity.

APAC high yield bond issuance fell 72 percent year-on-year to US$23.44 billion in 2022 from US$86.06 billion in 2021. 

The region’s loan market, however, has proven more resilient with issuance of leveraged and non-leveraged loans only down 16 percent year-on-year. Steady APAC loan activity was underpinned by the region’s cash-rich banks, which remained eager to lend to longstanding, high-quality relationship clients at a time when interest rates were trending higher.

SPAC market contracts after unprecedented growth

Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs)—investment vehicles that raise money on stock markets to fund acquisitions of private companies—were also buffeted by wider uncertainty. The 2021 boom in SPAC initial public offerings (IPOs) lost steam as bumpy stock markets and a deteriorating economic backdrop eroded investor appetite for new SPAC listings.

In the United States, only 83 SPAC IPOs went ahead in 2022, securing proceeds of US$13 billion, materially below the 612 listings that raised US$156.70 billion in 2021. US de-SPAC deals—where a SPAC merges with a target company—also tailed off, dropping to US$59.86 billion in 2022 from US$368 billion in 2021. 

In Europe, 2022 SPAC IPO volumes dropped to nine from 32 in 2021, with proceeds down 78 percent from 2021 levels. On the European de-SPAC deal side, overall value also dropped 78 percent year-on-year to US$17.72 billion in 2022. 

In addition to having to navigate stiffening global economic headwinds, SPACs also faced the prospect of tougher regulation after some de-SPAC deals fell short of meeting investor expectations. 

In the United States, the SEC put forward proposals regarding potential liability for underwriters involved in de-SPAC transactions. This weighed on the market, with banks pulling backing from underwriting SPAC deals because of fears of increased regulatory intervention. More risk averse investors also opted to redeem SPAC shares at the closing of de-SPAC deals in favor of investing in steadier assets.


Photo by Christoph Hetzmannseder © Getty Images
Escalators in Vienna, Austria


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