On the Heels of Dentons' Historic Combination in China, US Merger
Brings Clients of Both Firms Advantages in North America and Around the
Globe
NEW YORK & ATLANTA - Thursday, April 9th 2015 [ME NewsWire]
(BUSINESS
WIRE)-- A merger of Dentons US LLP (“Dentons US”) and McKenna Long
& Aldridge LLP (“McKenna Long”) has been approved by the partners of
both firms. The news builds on the momentum of the previously announced
combination between Dentons and 大成, creating the world's largest law
firm. Clients inside the US will gain unrivaled access to markets around
the world, and international clients will enjoy increased strength and
reach across the US.
Committed to delivering the highest quality
legal counsel at home and abroad, Dentons will serve clients from more
than 125 locations across 50-plus countries. It will boast approximately
6,600 lawyers and professionals worldwide, with more than 1,100 of them
based in the United States. The team will span 21 US locations,
including Albany, NY; Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Houston;
Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles; Miami; New Orleans; New York; Orange
County, CA; Phoenix; San Diego; San Francisco; Short Hills, NJ; Silicon
Valley, CA; St. Louis; Tysons Corner, VA; and Washington, DC.
The merger will:
Significantly
enhance client service across practices and sectors. Virtually every
sector and practice group will gain added depth, breadth and geographic
reach, creating, among other disciplines:
A substantially enhanced Corporate practice
A national Litigation powerhouse, offering a full range of services in the largest US litigation markets
The world's dominant Real Estate practice, with sizeable presence in
key industry centers in the US including Atlanta, California, Chicago
and New York
A major competitive advantage in Insurance
A
premier Public Policy and Regulation practice in the US, both in
Washington, DC, and around the US, also with a new US-Canada focus
A preeminent US Government Contracts practice
An Intellectual Property practice with substantial presence in leading
markets such as Silicon Valley, Washington, DC, New York and San Diego
Enhance
Dentons' offerings in key US markets. Following the merger, Dentons
will have a substantially increased presence in New York, Atlanta, Los
Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, DC, and new capabilities in
Denver, San Diego, Orange County, CA, and Albany, NY, providing the firm
a significantly enhanced position in the Southeastern US and the
Western US, including California, the third-largest US market.
Create
global synergies. Building on Dentons' global platform and the upcoming
combination of Dentons and 大成, this merger will enable Dentons US to
offer even more services in more places to more clients. Dentons
currently offers the fifth-largest presence in Canada; combining that
with McKenna Long’s US-Canadian practice will make the new Dentons the
premier firm for US-Canada work. McKenna Long’s Seoul office will
advance the firm's inroads into the fast-growing Asia Pacific market.
International clients seeking access to US markets will take advantage
of the merged firm’s expanded American footprint. Clients in the US and
around the globe will also benefit from the united team of influential
and experienced government affairs professionals between Dentons US and
McKenna Long. This team includes former national party officials,
ambassadors, former members of the US Congress and top aides to US
presidents, governors and senators.
Leverage Dentons’ polycentric
approach on behalf of clients. Both Dentons and McKenna Long embrace
the diversity of our people, geography, cultures, legal traditions and
clients. Dentons will have no dominant national culture or single
headquarters. This polycentric approach benefits clients competing in
globalized markets and sectors. It offers legal talent from diverse
backgrounds and countries and with deep experience in every type of law,
including civil law, common law, Shari'ah law and Chinese law.
Dentons
US will be led by Co-Chief Executive Officers Jeff Haidet, the Chairman
of McKenna Long, and Peter Wolfson, the CEO of Dentons US. Mike
McNamara, who currently serves as Managing Partner of Dentons US, will
be the Managing Partner of the merged Dentons US. Leadership in the
firm's other regions will remain unchanged. Globally, Dentons will
continue to be led by Elliott Portnoy as Global Chief Executive, Joe
Andrew as Global Chairman, and, after the launch of the combination with
大成, Peng Xuefeng as Chairman of the Global Board.
Andrew said,
"Joining with the tremendous talent, expertise and leadership of McKenna
Long after combining with 大成, shows that Dentons' inventive,
polycentric approach has created not only the largest law firm in the
world, but the leading law firm in the world."
"This year Dentons
has already advanced many important firsts and milestones that support
our client-centric mission around the world,” noted Portnoy. “From our
combination in China to achieving Level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic
Empowerment status in South Africa, and now a merger with McKenna Long,
we are an even stronger firm than we were at the beginning of the year.”
"Our
merger with Dentons is the result of a thoughtful, year-long strategic
planning process culminating in a positive path for the future of
McKenna Long and our clients," said Haidet. "The advantages to our
clients and our people are clear, and we are excited to embrace in the
US an unmatched global platform."
Wolfson noted, "Last year
Dentons enjoyed the best financial performance of our 109-year history
in the US. Combining with the exceptional lawyers and professionals of
McKenna Long continues our strategic priority of bolstering that
performance in practices such as Corporate, Litigation, Intellectual
Property, Public Policy and Regulation and many other critical areas of
client service."
The overwhelming percentage of economic interest
of both firms approved the merger and will be combining together. By
mutual decision, not all lawyers and professionals will join the
combined firm. By agreement with those not joining, announcements will
be made when individuals determine where they are going to continue
their careers.
Effective date
The merger of Dentons US and McKenna Long is expected to be effective later in 2015.
About Dentons
Dentons
is a global law firm driven to provide clients a competitive edge in an
increasingly complex and interconnected world. A top 20 firm on the
Acritas 2014 Global Elite Brand Index, Dentons is committed to
challenging the status quo in delivering consistent and uncompromising
quality in new and inventive ways. With a legacy of legal experience
that dates back to 1742, Dentons was formed by the combination of
international law firm Salans LLP, Canadian law firm Fraser Milner
Casgrain LLP (FMC) and international law firm SNR Denton. Dentons'
clients now benefit from approximately 2,600 lawyers and professionals
in more than 75 locations spanning 50-plus countries across Africa, Asia
Pacific, Canada, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, CIS and
the Caucasus, the UK, and the US. The firm serves the local, regional
and global needs of a broad spectrum of clients, including private and
public corporations; governments and government agencies; small
businesses and startups; entrepreneurs; and individuals. For more
information, see www.dentons.com.
About McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
McKenna
Long & Aldridge is an international law firm with attorneys and
public policy advisors in 15 offices and 13 markets. The firm is
uniquely positioned at the intersection of law, business and government,
representing clients in the areas of complex litigation, corporate law,
energy, environment, finance, government contracts, health care,
infrastructure, insurance, intellectual property, public policy, real
estate and technology.
McKenna Long was formed by the 2002 merger
of two firms - the Washington, DC-based McKenna & Cuneo and the
Atlanta-based Long Aldridge & Norman. In 2012, California-based Luce
Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP combined with McKenna Long.
For more information, see www.mckennalong.com.
About 大成
Founded
in 1992, 大成 is one of the first and is currently the largest law firm
in China. 大成 is home to more than 4,000 licensed attorneys and
professionals worldwide. Headquartered in Beijing, 大成 has more than 51
branches and offices, enabling the firm to offer seamlessly integrated
legal services to its clients on a global basis.
大成 and its
lawyers have earned numerous outstanding honors and awards through
years, including being named “Outstanding National Law Firm” by the All
China Lawyers Association for several consecutive years, holding the top
spot on Asian Legal Business' "ALB 50: Asia's Largest Law Firms" and
being named number one on The Asia Lawyer's 2015 "The Asia 50" and "The
China 20" list. For more information please see www.dachengnet.com.
Contacts
Dentons
Ashley Burke, +1 202-408-3255
ashley.burke@dentons.com
McKenna Long & Aldridge
Ellen Musante, +1 202-496-7228
emusante@mckennalong.com
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