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The New Lawyer
International firm Ashurst is edging closer to a merger with Australian law firm Blake Dawson, sources say.
INTERNATIONAL firm Ashurst is edging closer to a merger with Australian law firm Blake Dawson.
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It is understood the UK law firm set up an internal working group of about 25 to 30 partners to work on plans for Australian presence, The Lawyer reports.
A spokesperson at Blake Dawson told The New Lawyer that the firm "does not comment on market speculation".
The deal would see Ashurst follow Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, DLA Piper and Norton Rose into Australia.
The New Lawyer reported in May that Herbert Smith had been eyeing up a union with Blake Dawson, based on information provided by an anonymous legal industry source.
The Ashurst deal now depends on senior management at that firm seeing off dissent from a faction in the firm that is opposed to the deal, according to UK media reports.
