John Quinn founded a four-lawyer firm in Los Angeles that grew into Quinn Emanuel — now the largest litigation-only law firm in the world, with more than 1,000 lawyers and nearly $3 billion in annual revenue. Which is impressive. But it’s also only part of the story. In this episode, John takes us from his childhood in Utah to Harvard Law School and then Los Angeles, where an early business model that didn’t quite work ended up helping lay the foundation for one of the most successful law firms in the world. We also talk about the cases that still stick with him after decades of litigation, why he decided law offices should have artists-in-residence — actual working artists creating inside the firm — and how global hikes, contemporary art, and Michelin-starred sushi somehow all became part of the Quinn Emanuel universe. Because John Quinn is, by any measure, a phenomenally successful lawyer. But spend a little time with him and it becomes clear that the more interesting story is how unusually he’s chosen to build the life — and the institution — around that success. And if you’re wondering why we recorded the conversation inside a Michelin-starred Downtown L.A. sushi restaurant called Q? Yeah. That’s his too.
John Quinn founded a four-lawyer firm in Los Angeles that grew into Quinn Emanuel — now the largest litigation-only law firm in the world, with more than 1,000 lawyers and nearly $3 billion in annual revenue.
Which is impressive.
But it’s also only part of the story.
In this episode, John takes us from his childhood in Utah to Harvard Law School and then Los Angeles, where an early business model that didn’t quite work ended up helping lay the foundation for one of the most successful law firms in the world.
We also talk about the cases that still stick with him after decades of litigation, why he decided law offices should have artists-in-residence — actual working artists creating inside the firm — and how global hikes, contemporary art, and Michelin-starred sushi somehow all became part of the Quinn Emanuel universe.
Because John Quinn is, by any measure, a phenomenally successful lawyer. But spend a little time with him and it becomes clear that the more interesting story is how unusually he’s chosen to build the life — and the institution — around that success.
And if you’re wondering why we recorded the conversation inside a Michelin-starred Downtown L.A. sushi restaurant called Q?
Yeah. That’s his too.