Latham & Watkins has become the world’s first law firm to exceed $3bn in annual revenue, setting a new benchmark for the industry and erecting a new challenge for other firms looking to take its place at the top of the Am Law 100.

The global giant boosted its revenue by 8.5% to $3.064bn in 2017, while profits per equity partner (PEP) grew 6% to $3.25m, according to preliminary ALM data. The results come on the heels of a strong 2016, when revenue rose 6.5% and PEP grew 5.3%.