Big changes are coming to the practice of law — at least in Arizona — now that KPMG, a Big Four accounting firm, has officially obtained a license to offer legal services under the state’s alternative business structure program. KPMG is now the first member of the Big Four to own a law firm servicing US clients. The only catch is that KPMG Law US will not be able to perform legal services for any clients for which it already conducts financial statement audits or attestations.
Wave goodbye to Biglaw, and say hello to Big Four Law!
American Lawyer has additional details on what KPMG is heralding as a “milestone” moment:
“KPMG is uniquely positioned to transform the delivery of legal services,” KPMG Tax LLP Vice Chair Rema Serafi said in a statement. “By combining cutting-edge artificial intelligence and advanced technology solutions with legal services, we are proud to be a first mover with this capability and to offer the most holistic range of tech-enabled services in the marketplace for our clients’ evolving needs.”
The firm, in a news release, said that 100 clients are already being served in Arizona, and that its in-state presence will enable KPMG Law US to operate as an independently managed subsidiary of KPMG and will maintain a strategic alignment with the KPMG Tax practice.
“This approach combines innovation with the longstanding KPMG commitment to quality, ethics, independence, and professional standards, so clients may benefit from comprehensive, integrated, professional services,” the news release states.
KPMG will offer its legal clients a suite of services, including legal operations consulting and legal technology innovation. As further noted in its news release, “KPMG Law US combines the technological capabilities of KPMG with legal services to address the evolving needs of legal departments, backed by the firm’s trusted legacy of delivering solutions when they matter most.”
Congratulations to KPMG on being the first of the Big Four to secure the ability to conduct legal services in the US. This is certainly a big moment for the accounting world.
KPMG Launches U.S. Law Firm After Landing Arizona Approval [American Lawyer]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
