In the legal world, bigger isn’t always better. Having spent over a decade at one of the largest law firms in Australia, Herbert Smith Freehills, where I rose to become Head of Projects Asia Pacific, I’ve seen first-hand the strengths and weaknesses of large legal practices. My time in London at Taylor Wessing, a Anglo-German firm also provided some perspective in a different jurisdiction. While the scale and resources of these firms can be impressive, they often come with significant drawbacks that can hinder client service, innovation, and personalised attention. This is why, after 18 years at ‘Freehills’ and 5 years at Taylor Joynson Garrett (as it then was), I made the decision to establish my own firm, Paradise Charnock Hing, where I serve as founder and director. Some of my former partners may have even joined us….

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1. The Allure of the Big Firms

Large law firms like Herbert Smith Freehills are often seen as the pinnacle of legal success. They boast deep benches of specialists, vast resources, and global reach. These firms can handle the most complex, high-stakes legal matters, which is why they are often the first choice for major corporations. During my time at ‘Freehills’, I had the opportunity to work on some of the most significant projects across the Asia Pacific region including Sydney Metro, Moorebank Intermodal and SK Gas in Korea, leveraging the firm’s extensive network and expertise.  In London, I worked on the acquisition and sale of muti-national companies and the establishment of major technology companies, which were at the time, fledgling dot-com start ups.  

However, while big firms have their advantages, they also come with significant trade-offs. As I moved up the ranks, I began to notice the cracks in the big-firm model—cracks that became increasingly difficult to ignore.

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2. The Downsides of Big-Firm Practice

One of the main challenges with large law firms is the sheer scale of their operations. While this allows them to take on big projects, it also means that clients can sometimes feel like just another file in a vast sea of cases. The personal touch that smaller firms can offer is often lost in the bureaucratic layers, conflict checks and rigid structures of larger practices.

Moreover, large firms tend to focus heavily on billable hours and profitability, which can sometimes come at the expense of innovative solutions or tailored legal strategies. Lawyers at big firms are often stretched thin, juggling multiple clients and cases simultaneously. This can lead to a more formulaic approach to legal work, where the nuances of a client’s specific needs might be overlooked in favour of a one-size-fits-all strategy.

Another critical issue with large firms is cost. The overheads of maintaining a large firm are enormous, and these costs are inevitably passed on to the client. When you engage a big firm, you’re not just paying for the legal expertise—you’re also covering the cost of overseas partner conferences, large management teams, marble staircases, unwieldy HR and finance departments, and even summer clerk cruises. The excesses don’t stop there: consider the expensive art collections, lavish office spaces in prime CBD locations, and the seemingly endless hierarchy of partners, senior associates, and junior lawyers, each with their own hefty price tag. These costs add up, and they don’t always translate into better service or outcomes for the client.

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3. The Appeal of Smaller Firms

This is where smaller firms have a distinct advantage. At Paradise Charnock Hing, we focus on providing highly personalised, client-centric legal services. Because we’re not bogged down by the bureaucracy of a large firm, we can be more agile, more responsive, and more attuned to the specific needs of our clients. Our client engagement process takes a matter of minutes and not a matter weeks.

As the directors of our own firm, we have the freedom to innovate and approach legal challenges creatively. We’re not constrained by a rigid hierarchy or the need to hit massive revenue targets. Instead, we can focus on what really matters: delivering exceptional legal services that are tailored to each client’s unique situation.

One of the best-kept secrets about smaller firms is that the people providing the advice are often the same professionals who once worked at the big firms. At Paradise Charnock Hing, you’re not getting lesser quality or less experienced lawyers—in fact, you’re getting the same calibre of expertise that you’d find at a top-tier firm, but with the added benefit of personalised service. Many of us have chosen to move away from the large firms precisely because we want to focus more on our clients and less on the internal politics and pressures of a big organisation.

Smaller firms are also better positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with their clients. At Paradise Charnock Hing, we pride ourselves on truly understanding our clients’ businesses, industries, and long-term goals. This allows us to offer not just legal advice, but strategic guidance that can help our clients navigate the complexities of the modern business world.

And because our overheads are lower, we can offer more competitive pricing without sacrificing quality. You won’t find marble staircases or extravagant perks at our firm—what you will find is a team of dedicated legal professionals who are committed to providing the highest level of service at a fair and reasonable cost.

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4. The Case for Going Small

Australia’s legal landscape is evolving, and clients are increasingly recognising the benefits of working with smaller firms. In a market that values expertise, innovation, and personalised service, smaller firms are better equipped to meet these demands. They offer a level of flexibility and responsiveness that larger firms simply can’t match.

In my own career, I’ve seen the power of this approach first-hand. After years of working in a large firm, I wanted to create a legal practice that put clients first—a firm that was nimble, innovative, and deeply committed to delivering outstanding results. That vision became Paradise Charnock Hing, and it’s a vision that resonates with many clients who are tired of the impersonal, profit-driven approach of big law firms.

If you’re considering your options for legal representation, I encourage you to look beyond the big names. Smaller firms like ours offer a unique blend of expertise, creativity, and personal attention that can make all the difference in your legal matters. In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, having a legal partner who truly understands your needs and is committed to your success is invaluable.

At Paradise Charnock Hing, we’re not just lawyers—we’re your partners in navigating the complexities of the legal landscape. And in a market that’s increasingly dominated by big firms, that personalised touch is more important than ever.

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