It is no secret that Eversheds has long wanted a US tie-up, with the partnership heavily backing the strategy in 2014. However apart from a few well-placed external and internal sources, most of the partnership and important clients this side of the Atlantic had no idea the firm was so close to a deal with Atlanta-based full service firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan.
‘It was out there but very quietly’, said a rival managing partner of the combination, which isn’t going to include operational or financial integration between Eversheds and Sutherland, but will include a new entity called Eversheds Sutherland, overseen by a global board and with equal representation from each firm.