Headcount Over Time
Total Employee Count i
Mar 2024 – Mar 2026
Median tenure: 4.5 years
Headcount Milestones i
Point-in-time employee counts
March 2024
6,737
September 2024 +2% 6m
6,896
March 2025 +2% 6m
7,010
August 2025 ~0% 6m
6,986
▶ March 2026 (current)
6,965
Growth rates
Workforce Composition
Employee Distribution by Function i
Share of total headcount (6,965 employees)
Legal1,872 (27%)
Administrative670 (10%)
Entrepreneurship432 (6%)
Education287 (4%)
Business Development277 (4%)
Human Resources244 (4%)
Information Technology234 (3%)
Finance185 (3%)
Operations192 (3%)
Research178 (3%)
Accounting163 (2%)
Support123 (2%)
Other2,108 (30%)
Headcount Growth by Function i
6-month and 1-year growth rates by department
| Function | Employees | Share | 6m | 1y |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal | 1,872 | 27% | ▲1% | ▲2% |
| Administrative | 670 | 10% | ▼1% | ▼2% |
| Entrepreneurship | 432 | 6% | ▲2% | ▲5% |
| Education | 287 | 4% | ▲3% | ▲4% |
| Business Development | 277 | 4% | ▲3% | ▲8% |
| Human Resources | 244 | 4% | ▲2% | ▲5% |
| Information Technology | 234 | 3% | ▲4% | ▲9% |
| Finance | 185 | 3% | ▲2% | ▲4% |
| Operations | 192 | 3% | ▲2% | ▲3% |
| Research | 178 | 3% | ▲1% | ▲3% |
| Accounting | 163 | 2% | ▲1% | ▲2% |
| Support | 123 | 2% | — | — |
| Other | 2,108 | 30% | — | — |
| Total | 6,965 | 100% | ●~0% | ▼1% |
Headcount growth — 6 months (absolute change)
Hiring Activity
New Hires per Month i
Sep 2025 – Jan 2026 · 727 total new hires
Hiring peaked in October 2025 (224 hires) before declining through November (95) and December (73), with January 2026 recovering to 144. The Q4 dip likely reflects seasonal slowdown and year-end hiring freezes, with September and October representing the most active recruitment months as Freshfields continued its US expansion.
Job Openings (Q4 2025)
Open Positions by Function i
Q4 2025 · 67 total openings
Legal21 (31%)
Information Technology11 (16%)
Engineering8 (12%)
Project Management7 (10%)
Business Development4 (6%)
Education4 (6%)
Administrative3 (4%)
Finance3 (4%)
Accounting2 (3%)
Human Resources2 (3%)
Research2 (3%)
Job Openings Growth i
3m & 6m growth by department
| Function | Openings | 3m | 6m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal | 21 | ▲50% | ▲110% |
| Information Technology | 11 | ▲267% | ▲450% |
| Engineering | 8 | ▲300% | ▲700% |
| Program / Project Mgmt | 7 | ▲17% | ●0% |
| Business Development | 4 | ▲100% | ▲300% |
| Education | 4 | ▲33% | ▲300% |
| Administrative | 3 | ▲50% | ●0% |
| Finance | 3 | ●0% | ●0% |
| Accounting | 2 | ▼33% | ▼33% |
| Human Resources | 2 | ▼60% | ▼80% |
| Research | 2 | ▲100% | ▲200% |
| Total | 67 | ▲41% | ▲53% |
3-month job openings growth
Company Focus Areas
Strategic Priorities i
Strengthening AI & Technology
Freshfields is aggressively investing in AI and technology expertise to support high-profile M&A and technology transformation projects, growing its IT and Engineering job openings by 450% and 700% respectively over six months — the fastest-growing functions firmwide.
Expansion in the United States
Freshfields is focusing on expanding in the US by attracting lateral hires from top American firms such as Sullivan & Cromwell and Clifford Chance, building a significant transactional and disputes practice across key US markets.