‘Buffeted from both sides’: City partners react as Clyde & Co and BLM finalise merger

‘Buffeted from both sides’: City partners react as Clyde & Co and BLM finalise merger

With partners from Clyde & Co and BLM recently voting through their £700m merger, observers have offered conflicting views on what the tie-up means for the market.

Legal Business broke the news on 18 March that a partnership vote was imminent, and Clyde confirmed on 28 March that the vote had passed, with the combination to go live in July 2022.

Continue reading “‘Buffeted from both sides’: City partners react as Clyde & Co and BLM finalise merger”

US march into London continues as Armstrong Teasdale completes acquisition 

US march into London continues as Armstrong Teasdale completes acquisition 

Missouri-bred Armstrong Teasdale has made an ambitious London launch via the acquisition of Kerman & Co and its 50 lawyers and staff.

The buyout will boost Armstrong Teasdale’s global headcount to over 340 lawyers, and marks the firm’s eighth office opening in the last two years. It swiftly follows the firm’s Delaware launch in January.   Continue reading “US march into London continues as Armstrong Teasdale completes acquisition “

Knights puts hand in pocket again for £28.6m double acquisition

Knights puts hand in pocket again for £28.6m double acquisition

Knights has made its largest splash to date, taking £28.6m out of its war chest to acquire two more regional firms, while also launching a £20m share placement towards funding the deals.

The listed firm has agreed to acquire Leeds-based outfit Shulmans for approximately £20.1m and south east firm ASB Law in a deal worth up to £8.5m. The respective acquisitions will see a total of 219 fee earners decamp to Knights upon completion. Continue reading “Knights puts hand in pocket again for £28.6m double acquisition”

‘We’re taking proximate steps’: DAC doubles up in Madrid with 20-lawyer hire

‘We’re taking proximate steps’: DAC doubles up in Madrid with 20-lawyer hire

DAC Beachcroft is looking for further opportunities in Europe and South America after doubling the size of its Madrid office by combining with a three-partner insurance boutique.

The firm today (21 January) took on 20-lawyer outfit Asjusa, which focuses on professional liability and insurance in the healthcare sector, led by partners Eduardo Asensi Pallarés and Iñigo Cid-Luna Clares. The third partner joining is Julio Albi. Continue reading “‘We’re taking proximate steps’: DAC doubles up in Madrid with 20-lawyer hire”

‘Developing market share’: Weightmans opens shop in Newcastle through Watson Burton acquisition

‘Developing market share’: Weightmans opens shop in Newcastle through Watson Burton acquisition

National player Weightmans has expanded into North East England after acquiring Newcastle-based firm Watson Burton, adding nine partners to the firm’s bench.

In total, 64 employees will join Weightmans’ ranks, with Watson Burton having offices in Newcastle, Leeds and London. Though the cost of the acquisition was not disclosed, Watson Burton turned over £6.9m in the last financial year. Continue reading “‘Developing market share’: Weightmans opens shop in Newcastle through Watson Burton acquisition”

Dentons double merger adds 300 lawyers to create ‘first truly national US law firm’

Dentons double merger adds 300 lawyers to create ‘first truly national US law firm’

Dentons will have more than 1,000 lawyers across 33 US markets following the latest in a long line of tie-ups announced since the start of the summer.

After expanding in South America, Asia Pacific and Africa through ten mergers since July, the globetrotting firm has announced it is to combine with 175-lawyer Midwest firm Bingham Greenebaum and 140-strong Pennsylvania-bred Cohen & Grigsby. Continue reading “Dentons double merger adds 300 lawyers to create ‘first truly national US law firm’”

‘A real competitor’: Kingsley Napley strengthens employment practice with Archon Solicitors acquisition

‘A real competitor’: Kingsley Napley strengthens employment practice with Archon Solicitors acquisition

Kingsley Napley has acquired Archon Solicitors to create a combined employment practice of seven partners and 11 associates.

Corinne Aldridge, managing partner of City employment firm Archon, has been appointed as the new head of Kingsley Napley’s employment team. The Archon team will move into Kingsley Napley’s Farringdon offices on 30 September and will no longer operate under the Archon name. Continue reading “‘A real competitor’: Kingsley Napley strengthens employment practice with Archon Solicitors acquisition”

Dentons makes it five mergers in a month with Argentina and Uruguay tie-ups

Dentons makes it five mergers in a month with Argentina and Uruguay tie-ups

Dentons has capped off an expansive summer, even by its own standards, announcing it is to enter Argentina and Uruguay through its fourth and fifth combinations respectively in just over a month.

The 10,000-lawyer firm announced today (4 September) it will add another 80 to its ranks by absorbing Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena in Buenos Aires and Jiménez de Aréchaga, Viana & Brause in Montevideo. Continue reading “Dentons makes it five mergers in a month with Argentina and Uruguay tie-ups”

The deal is off: A&O and O’Melveny call an end to transatlantic merger talks

The deal is off: A&O and O’Melveny call an end to transatlantic merger talks

Allen & Overy has conceded the ‘compelling synergies’ between it and O’Melveny & Myers were not quite enough to seal a long sought-after tie-up, having today (2 September) said they were calling it a day on merger talks.

The news comes after months of market speculation since a possible merger between the Magic Circle giant and the Los Angeles-bred firm first emerged in spring 2018. Continue reading “The deal is off: A&O and O’Melveny call an end to transatlantic merger talks”