Dentons is set to combine with Dutch firm Boekel, completing its third phase of European expansion, which has seen the global giant launch in Italy and Luxembourg.
The deal gives the firm a new Amsterdam office that expands its European presence to 26 offices in 18 countries. Boekel adds 70 lawyers to the global firm and 16 partners, with a focus on real estate, corporate and litigation.
The merger goes live this month, with Boekel managing partner Wendela Raas joining Dentons’ European management board.
Dentons Europe chief executive Tomasz Dąbrowski told Legal Business: ‘We have worked with Boekel for some time on a number of transactions and the feedback we have had has been positive. Adding the Netherlands now is the final step in our strategy that we developed in 2014 for our European practice.
‘We now have a new strategy – our “i19 strategy” – integration, innovation, improvement and increase. The aim is to keep increasing the satisfaction of clients, people and, as a result, our profitability.’
Dąbrowski said the firm’s two-year strategy for 2019 will focus on integrating the new hires and practice groups, adding the European offices had boosted profit per equity point by 10% in the last year. While the firm does not provide regional breakdowns of turnover, the European LLP billed around €250m in 2015, according to its latest accounts.
In 2015, Dentons launched its first office in Italy with a new branch in Milan, followed by a launch in Rome a year later. The firm also completed a merger with local Luxembourg firm OPF Partners at the start of 2016 and secured a Georgia office in March this year as two DLA Piper partners left for Dentons in Tbilisi.
Dentons has also started adding bench strength in its German offices. It recruited two Clifford Chance partners last month: disputes partner Heiko Heppner and finance partner Arne Klüwer, who joins as German head of banking and finance.
In addition to the Magic Circle partners, Dentons hired Baker McKenzie structured finance partner Matthias Eggert.
Dąbrowski noted: ‘Germany remains a top priority. We would still like to grow our presence and increase our market position in Frankfurt and Munich.’
matthew.field@legalease.co.uk