Overnight, global law firm Ashurst (which has five offices across Australia) and US-headquartered BigLaw practice Perkins Coie made public the entities’ plans to combine into a top-20 global law firm.
Shortly before midnight (AEDT) on Monday, 17 November, Perkins Coie and Ashurst announced intentions to merge into Ashurst Perkins Coie, which the firms are calling a “combination of equals”, “with highly complementary geographic footprints, capabilities, and cultures”.
Ashurst Perkins Coie’s footprint will span 52 offices in 23 countries, the firms outlined, with flagship hubs in Seattle, London, Sydney, and New York, as well as expertise in major financial centres, including Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Paris, Seoul, Shenzhen, Singapore, and Tokyo.
The proposed combination is subject to customary closing conditions, including a vote of the partners at each firm.
Ashurst is the second global firm with an Australian presence to combine with a US entity in the past year, following the merger between Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin (now Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer), first announced in November of last year, which then went live in June.
The firm will have approximately 3,000 lawyers globally.
Ashurst Perkins Coie will be led by Bill Malley and Paul Jenkins as global co-CEOs, while Karen Davies of Ashurst and Brian Eiting of Perkins Coie will be co-chairs of the combined firm. Mark Birnbaum, the current chair of Perkins Coie’s executive committee, will continue serving in that role until his regular term expires at the end of 2025.
Malley said: “Perkins Coie has a proud history of partnering with the world’s most innovative companies, helping them grow, and growing alongside them, which has underpinned our strong financial performance in recent years.
“Today, our clients face challenges and opportunities that are not only global but also increasingly complex. To meet this moment, we must strengthen our ability to deliver trusted legal guidance seamlessly across borders.
“Ashurst complements our geographic reach and capabilities and shares our ambition to build a firm defined by ingenuity and collaboration. Together, we will combine resources and expertise to accelerate growth and set new standards for world-class legal service.”
Jenkins said: “Our ambition for many years has been to grow in the US with the right partner: a firm with deep, trusted expertise that complements our own.
“We have now found that partner – Perkins Coie is an ambitious, forward-thinking law firm meeting its clients at the forefront of technological change. At a time of rapid transformation and strategic complexity, we are excited by this unique opportunity to launch a truly differentiated global law firm for our clients and our people.
“With Ashurst’s established global presence and sector expertise, and both firms’ reputations for challenging the status quo, I am confident Ashurst Perkins Coie will be a leading advisor across the key industries – technology, energy and infrastructure, and financial services – which are shaping the future of the global economy.”
Davies said: “As clients face more complex, global issues, the demand for truly integrated legal solutions has never been greater. This combination positions us to meet this demand head-on. Clients want us to think and act globally, and uniting with Perkins Coie, a firm that shares our values and collaborative culture, to create a firm with an even greater breadth of capabilities and deeper client relationships, is exciting.
“Beyond our complementary capabilities and geographies, we have both grown largely organically and are proud of the histories of our two firms, our unique geographic roots, and our like-minded cultures and people. We are a truly global firm that has guided our clients through generational change, risk, and opportunity. This combination allows us to bring the best of both firms to every matter, significantly strengthening our ability to meet our combined clients’ needs on a global scale, and creating new opportunities for our people.”
Birnhaum said: “For more than 100 years, we have looked to the future, constantly adapting to change, and helping our clients do the same.
“This combination is the next evolution of that, bringing together two forward-thinking firms into a truly global platform that will stay ahead of change.”
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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