Linklaters calls off China merger hunt as partnership backs Shanghai spinoff

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Linklaters‘ partnership has decided against pursuing a fully-fledged merger to secure credible China law coverage and voted through plans for a local spin-off set to launch later this year.

Three PRC lawyers in Linklaters’ Shanghai arm are set to create their own firm, which Linklaters will form a best friend agreement with. With talks having fallen through with Shanghai Capital Law & Partners and Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm at the end of last year to form a JV under new rules of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, the new firm will enter into a ‘joint operations’ agreement once local regulators allow. Continue reading “Linklaters calls off China merger hunt as partnership backs Shanghai spinoff”

Comment: The tiger that came to eat BLP’s culture for breakfast and other sorry tales

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These are tough times for another house that Stanley Berwin built, with exhibit B being the acrimonious end of merger talks between Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Greenberg Traurig. While the practice fit between the two looked both convincing and distinctive, these were two firms with plenty of strong characters.

Continue reading “Comment: The tiger that came to eat BLP’s culture for breakfast and other sorry tales”

The tiger that came to eat BLP’s culture for breakfast and other sorry tales

Posted on |

These are tough times for another house that Stanley Berwin built, with exhibit B being the acrimonious end of merger talks between Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Greenberg Traurig. While the practice fit between the two looked both convincing and distinctive, these were two firms with plenty of strong characters. Summing up the prospect of the proposed deal recently, Legal Business noted that proceeding with a union would be holding ‘the proverbial tiger by the tail’. So it quickly proved, as on 16 March the pair officially called time on the discussions amid some discontent from the US firm, which was unhappy at the messages being put out by BLP at the end of the talks.

Continue reading “The tiger that came to eat BLP’s culture for breakfast and other sorry tales”

Leadership, strategy and culture: behind the failed merger discussions between BLP and Greenberg

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Following the fallout of failed merger talks between Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Greenberg Traurig, it has emerged the UK firm’s leadership was an issue for the Miami giant.

The merger had promised to create a property and disputes giant across the Atlantic and one of the most distinctive law firms in the global market but was called off in March.

Continue reading “Leadership, strategy and culture: behind the failed merger discussions between BLP and Greenberg”

Real estate, financial integration and Maher: the particulars of the ambitious BLP/Greenberg union

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Firm leaders discuss selling points as deal goes to a vote

As Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) closes in on its merger with Miami-based Greenberg Traurig, both firms have targeted full financial integration as their leaders sell the deal to their partnerships.

Continue reading “Real estate, financial integration and Maher: the particulars of the ambitious BLP/Greenberg union”

Legal freelancing enters the big league as LOD seals £25m merger with Australian firm

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In the largest New Law merger to date, the UK’s biggest freelance lawyer service Lawyers On Demand (LOD) has sealed a deal with Australia’s AdventBalance to create a £25m business.

Revenue at LOD rose by 42% in the 2014/15 financial year to hit £12.3m and, with the merger doubling turnover, the deal is set to catapult LOD into the UK’s 100 largest legal services businesses, pulling in more than established law firms such as Harbottle & Lewis and Boodle Hatfield, less than a decade since its launch.

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Linklaters picks merger targets in Shanghai as Asia exits stack up

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Linklaters has selected Shanghai Capital Law & Partners and Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm as targets as management works to establish a Chinese law offering. The plans come as the firm’s Asia practice has been rocked by a series of senior exits.

Linklaters wants to become the first Magic Circle firm to practise Chinese law through new Shanghai free-trade zone rules after decades of protectionism in the communist country.

Continue reading “Linklaters picks merger targets in Shanghai as Asia exits stack up”