Three Law Firms Hold Nearly Two-Thirds of Recorded Quantum Legal Work

Insider Brief

• As quantum technology matures into a commercial industry, companies increasingly require a legal layer to manage financing, acquisitions, public listings, intellectual property and government-backed projects.
• Paul, Weiss, Osler and Cooley accounted for about 65% of the publicly recorded lawyer involvement across nine prominent quantum hardware companies, according to Pirical.
• Quantum-related legal work now spans acquisitions, public listings, patent and securities disputes, financing, joint ventures and government-backed infrastructure projects.

A quantum computer depends on layers of hardware, control systems and software. As the technology moves from the laboratory into the commercial market, a legal layer is forming around it as law firms handle acquisitions, public listings, patent disputes and government-backed projects.

Three law firms account for nearly two-thirds of the publicly recorded legal work involving nine prominent quantum hardware companies, highlighting how a small group of advisers has established an early position as the industry attracts more capital, government support and litigation.

Paul, Weiss, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt and Cooley accounted for 77 of the 119 lawyer-level involvements identified by Pirical, a London-based legal technology and business-intelligence company that specializes in people analytics for law firms. That represents about 65% of the recorded activity included in the analysis.