While its merger driven expansion has made Dentons a global giant, integration across the firm’s US business has led to 60 job losses across 22 offices. Continue reading “Dentons cuts 60 jobs across US offices as McKenna Long merger layoffs hit”
Withers has launched three new offices in the US with the hire of a nine partner team – the majority of which come from McKenna Long & Aldridge as the US firm carries on leaking partners ahead of a combination with Dentons.
Having already announced a mammoth combination with Chinese firm Dacheng under a Swiss verein structure this year, Dentons bolstered both its US and CEE capabilities last month by combining with Atlanta-based McKenna Long & Aldridge and hiring a 50-strong team from the Budapest office of White & Case.
Dentons had been scoping the market for a US combination for some time, and previously attempted to tie-up with McKenna Long in 2013 – though that was unsuccessful after partners at both firms rejected the move. This time, Dentons chief executive Elliott Portnoy said events ran more smoothly than had been widely reported. ‘The conversation moved with substantial speed; in 2013 we weren’t able to bring it to a final closure. It’s common for them to begin and unfold over a number of years but fade before a deal can be done. You need a high level of alignment around strategy.’
Having just announced its combination with Chinese firm Dacheng in January, a deal which will establish a 6,600 lawyer giant operating under a Swiss verein structure, Dentons has moved to bolster its US capabilities with a combination with Atlanta-based McKenna Long & Aldridge.
Continue reading “US expansion: Dentons and McKenna Long set to combine”
Fresh from its run of lateral hires from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) in London, Jones Day has made two prominent European partner hires, as Clifford Chance’s (CC) Frankfurt-based automotive head Johannes Perlitt joins the firm’s corporate practice while the head of EU product regulatory practice at McKenna Long & Aldridge in Brussels, Ursula Schliessner has also joined the firm as a partner. Continue reading “Jones Day hires CC Frankfurt head of automotives and McKenna Long Brussels regulatory partner”
Just two days after Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and New York-headquartered Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman called off their potentially game changing merger, Dentons and McKenna Long & Aldridge have announced that their partners have said no to a tie-up, after the decision was put to a partnership vote yesterday (26 November).
Both firms confirmed that they were in merger talks in late September and a vote was originally scheduled for 14 November, which if it had gone through would have created a firm with around 3,100 lawyer globally. Continue reading “Merger talks: Dentons and McKenna Long partners say no to a tie-up”
Dentons looks set to secure another substantive merger after management of the firm and US suitor McKenna Long & Aldridge this week approved proposals for its mooted union, clearing the way for partners to vote on the tie-up in November.
With both having confirmed the merger discussions in late September, the impending union looks set to create a firm with more than 3,100 lawyers around the world and push revenues through £1bn.
Dentons and McKenna Long & Aldridge confirmed late on Monday (30 September) that they are in merger talks to create a firm with more than 3,100 lawyers around the world.
The firms are reported to be aiming to complete the deal by 1 January 2014 and in response Dentons issued the following statement to the US media:
‘Since creating Dentons earlier this year, we have been very clear in our determination to always deepen our capabilities to serve clients in the U.S. and around the world.
‘This has included discussions with firms and lawyers for whom we have great respect and share common goals. Continue reading “Consolidation watch: Dentons and McKenna Long in merger talks”
