Texas headquartered law firm Haynes and Boone is to open its first European office, announcing a merger with London boutique Curtis Davis Garrard (CDG).
The merger will bump Haynes and Boone’s headcount above 600, with CDG’s 20 lawyers set to join the firm’s 585 lawyers.
Shipping and oil & gas boutique CDG will join the US firm, which posted turnover of $362m in 2015 and has a practice covering corporate and M&A, litigation, restructuring, energy, banking and finance, franchise, private equity, intellectual property, employment, real estate tax and antitrust.
With 14 offices across the US, one in China and one in Mexico, Haynes and Boone said its mission is ‘to be a pre-eminent law firm that serves clients globally’. The firm said it sought a London office to ‘better serve its clients’ growing needs for English law advice on international business and litigation matters.’
Partner Brad Richards will move from Haynes and Boone’s Houston office to integrate 20-year-old CDG, which was a 2015 boutique finalist in the Legal Business Awards, into the firm.
In the first law firm merger confirmed after the Brexit referendum, both parties had contemplated the impact of a Leave vote during discussions, ‘but agreed at the outset that this would not alter the many strategic advantages of a merger’. Haynes and Boone said the merger underscores its belief that London’s position as a leading financial centre will not be impacted long term by the Brexit vote.
Haynes and Boone managing partner Tim Powers said: ‘Our clients will continue to seek out accomplished London practitioners for English law advice on their global business transactions. In CDG, we found a supremely talented group of lawyers who will help us establish a premier London practice capable of providing a full range of services to companies in the industries we serve.’
madeleine.farman@legalease.co.uk