Major law firms are growing strongly despite the sluggish economy, buoyed by the return of deals, the rising tide of the energy transition and demand for services that spike during downturns such as insolvencies and workplace disputes.

After a period of caution following a pandemic-era peak, the latest biannual The Australian Financial Review Law Partnership Survey – sponsored by the UNSW faculty of Law & Justice – shows firms have roared back, with growth near their COVID-era record.