Holland & Hart Grows Revenue 8.5% on Litigation, Energy Work

Denver-based Holland & Hart grew revenues 8.5% to $321 million last year as the law firm added lawyers to increase its workload.

The revenue growth was below the 11% boost the firm reported a year ago. Holland & Hart’s profits per partner grew 1.6% to $720,000, a fraction of the 30% increase the firm reported a year ago.

Improving the record partner profit gains of 2021 “seemed like a tall hurdle,” said firm chair Chris Balch. “But I’m incredibly proud that we continued to post strong revenue growth in 2022.”

Holland & Hart has taken advantage of the Denver region’s proliferation in technology and life sciences companies to grow the 500-plus lawyer firm that was founded in 1947 by two mountain climbing attorneys.

Holland & Hart grew its headcount by 38 last year. The firm boasted a new six-lawyer team in Salt Lake City from Kirton McConkie last August, as well as a 10-lawyer trademark law team that jumped from Perkins Coie in February 2022.

“We are really doing the opposite of retrenchment,” he said.

Commercial litigation and energy and infrastructure were practice strengths last year, Balch said. Holland & Hart defended permit approvals for the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, he said.

The firm is open to the acquisition of a smaller firm or a “merger of equals” if the fit is right, Balch said.

“We’re very happy with our performance and what we’re building,” he said. “We’re not looking to be acquired.”