Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has made no secret of its ambition to grow in the US, and has long been touted as a potential merger partner for Stateside firms. Even so, Monday’s news (11 November) that it is intending to combine with New York’s Kramer Levin came as a surprise to some partners within the firm – let alone the wider market.
Should the partner vote go through early next year, the pair will unite in May as Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer; a $2bn, 2,700-lawyer firm that will operate as HSF Kramer in the US.
