Despite reports in the US legal press that the merger between Squire Sanders and Washington-headquartered lobbying firm Patton Boggs may have hit the buffers at the 11th hour, the firms today (27 May) announced that the merger has been voted through.
The combined firm, Squire Patton Boggs, will comprise approximately 1,600 lawyers – of which 1,223 are legacy Squires Sanders and 334 from Patton Boggs – across 45 offices. The new firm will come into effect on June 1 2014, after both partnerships voted in favour of the merger last week.
The combination will utilise Squire Sanders’ global platform and Patton Boggs’ public policy and white collar expertise in matters where law, government and business intersect.
The combined firm will advise in sectors including banking and financial services, energy, utilities, insurance, life sciences, healthcare, transportation, technology and telecommunications.
The merger goes ahead after top 50 Global 100 firm Dentons approached Patton Boggs with an offer to combine last month. And, follows the collapse of merger talks between Texas-based Locke Lord and Patton Boggs late last year.
It follows reports from the US legal and national press that a vote on the merger had been halted after a court filing in relation to a new suit brought against Patton Boggs by Chevron Corp, which it was feared would interfere with a $15m settlement paid by Patton Boggs to exit that litigation.
Jim Maiwurm, Squire Sanders’ chair and global chief executive until the end of the year said: ‘Patton Boggs is the premier public policy firm in the world, and this combination establishes us as the ‘go-to’ firm for public policy work. We also gain a leading position in the Middle East and several new locations in the United States, while deepening our bench in a number of important practices areas, all of which strengthen our service platform.’
Patton Boggs managing partner Ed Newberry added: ‘The platform and collective expertise created through this combination provide considerable opportunities to access new markets, engage clients in new ways and attract and retain top talent. I couldn’t be more excited for the future of our firm.’
Jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk