‘No-one has managed to build out of the key locations’: Eversheds’ Ranson discusses Asia strategy following KWM tie-up

‘No-one has managed to build out of the key locations’: Eversheds’ Ranson discusses Asia strategy following KWM tie-up

Following the announcement last week that Eversheds Sutherland has entered into a formal cooperation agreement with Chinese firm King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), Legal Business spoke to Eversheds’ chief executive officer Lee Ranson about the arrangement and the implications for both firms.

Under the terms of the deal, KWM will exclusively refer all its clients requiring legal advice in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa and South America to Eversheds, while Eversheds will refer all its international clients in need of PRC legal counsel solely to KWM. Continue reading “‘No-one has managed to build out of the key locations’: Eversheds’ Ranson discusses Asia strategy following KWM tie-up”

Departures from Shearman and Allen & Overy as merger is unveiled and energy dominates lateral hiring

Departures from Shearman and Allen & Overy as merger is unveiled and energy dominates lateral hiring

Following the announcement of the proposed A&O Shearman merger, news came that Shearman & Sterling had lost two partners to Ashurst in London, which leads the headline moves – dominated by energy and infrastructure hires – in recent weeks.

London-based Shearman partners Sanja Udovicic and Julia Derrick moved over to Ashurst to expand the firm’s global energy team. Continue reading “Departures from Shearman and Allen & Overy as merger is unveiled and energy dominates lateral hiring”

Getting its mojo back: How A&O Shearman could redefine the Magic Circle

Getting its mojo back: How A&O Shearman could redefine the Magic Circle

The proposed merger of A&O and Shearman & Sterling has got the market talking about the biggest news in the legal industry for decades. LB finds commentators sanguine on the deal – but management will have much work garnering partner support this summer ahead of the vote.

‘Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling to create the first fully integrated global elite law firm,’ proclaims the 21 May joint statement from the two firms, stating their intent to merge to create Allen Overy Shearman Sterling. Thankfully, the branding gurus also came up with the far snappier (and not quite so ampersand-devoid) A&O Shearman, ‘for short’. The combined firm would boast 3,900 lawyers across 49 offices and roughly $3.4bn in combined revenues. Continue reading “Getting its mojo back: How A&O Shearman could redefine the Magic Circle”

A&O Shearman is a marriage of necessity, not convenience – now to give the rainmakers the hard sell

A&O Shearman is a marriage of necessity, not convenience – now to give the rainmakers the hard sell

Easily the most enjoyable part about analysing the proposed merger of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling has been hearing the reactions of leaders at peer firms around the City on the video featuring senior partners Wim Dejonghe and Adam Hakki on the new A&O Shearman website.

Hot-take reactions from the c-suite around the Square Mile have been telling and often amusing. Says one US firm leader: ‘It’s clearly not a merger, is it? It’s a takeover of Shearman by A&O, isn’t it?’ That is a point echoed by many, and it certainly does feel like A&O’s Dejonghe is in the driving seat of what is undeniably a very slick pitch, even if it does at times look like Hakki is in a hostage situation with Stockholm Syndrome.

Continue reading “A&O Shearman is a marriage of necessity, not convenience – now to give the rainmakers the hard sell”

Breaking: Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling announce merger

Breaking: Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling announce merger

In what the firms describe as ‘the first fully integrated global elite law firm’ Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling today (21 May) announced a planned merger to create a ‘unique global law firm’ named Allen Overy Shearman Sterling – A&O Shearman for short.

In a statement, the firms said: ‘This merger will combine two of the world’s most prestigious law firms, leaders in their respective markets, to create an integrated global elite firm. Continue reading “Breaking: Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling announce merger”

End of the road for Womble Bond Dickinson merger talks with BDB Pitmans

End of the road for Womble Bond Dickinson merger talks with BDB Pitmans

Merger talks between Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) and BDB Pitmans have been called off, the firms announced on Wednesday (1 February) in a joint statement.

Talks of a combination first became public in October 2022, when a story on RollOnFriday prompted WBD and BDB Pitmans to confirm that they were in discussions around a potential merger, albeit early stage.

Continue reading “End of the road for Womble Bond Dickinson merger talks with BDB Pitmans”

Womble Bond Dickinson and BDB Pitmans table merger

Womble Bond Dickinson and BDB Pitmans table merger

Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) and BDB Pitmans are continuing to pursue a strategy of development through consolidation, having confirmed they are in talks over a potential merger.

After RollOnFriday broke the news of the merger talks today (21 October), the firms said in a joint statement: ‘Leading transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson and leading UK firm BDB Pitmans confirm that they are in early discussions around a potential merger. Both firms regularly review opportunities to advance the best interests of their clients and their respective firms. Womble Bond Dickinson and BDB Pitmans are focused on where they see the greatest opportunities for a merged business, including those offered by complementary practice areas and office locations. Continue reading “Womble Bond Dickinson and BDB Pitmans table merger”

History of mergers: State of the union

History of mergers: State of the union

‘The global Magic Circle is all American. The reality is that the English Magic Circle are now competing with the next tier down of US firms. So, for a UK Magic Circle firm to merge with a lower tier US firm would likely be accretive.’

So says Charlie Geffen, formerly a partner at Ashurst and Gibson Dunn. He expresses a common pessimism on this side of the pond about the chances of an elite UK and US merger. Continue reading “History of mergers: State of the union”

BLM salaried partners forced to re-apply for roles as Clyde merger looms

BLM salaried partners forced to re-apply for roles as Clyde merger looms

Salaried partners at BLM will have to re-apply for their positions once the firm’s merger with Clyde & Co goes live on 1 July.

Subject to a consultation, the salaried partners at BLM will be automatically transferred to Clyde with the title of legal director, and then given three options. Aside from remaining a director, they can apply to become a salaried partner (this option is only open to the casualty insurance practice) or a full equity partner at the merged firm. Continue reading “BLM salaried partners forced to re-apply for roles as Clyde merger looms”