US firm Bryan Cave and the UK's Berwin Leighton Paisner have announced a transatlantic merge -  creating a $900m business and ranking it in the top 50 law firms worldwide. Following a vote yesterday by the partnerships of both firms, they elected to join forces in April 2018. The new firm will be called Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and will be led by co-chairs, Bryan Cave's Therese Pritchard and BLP's Lisa Mayhew. The combination provides clients with access to international practice and sector teams in 32 offices across 11 countries and 1600 lawyers

Financially integrated

'Our combination is rooted in a shared determination to do something fresh and different for clients,' commented Lisa Mayhew, managing partner of BLP. 'Clients will benefit from our combined legal expertise; our shared values and culture and our approach to innovation in their interests. Different to most other international firms, ours will be fully financially integrated from Day one. This will enable us to work in teams whose only focus will be to provide a first class service to clients.'

Innovative tech

Clients of the combined firm will have access to broader and deeper legal services including the world’s fourth largest real estate practice,  an international financial services practice present in all of the world’s largest financial centres and an international litigation and corporate risk practice as well as a strong M&A practice. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner will combine its legal operations, consultancy and technology resources globally to provide clients with access to innovative technology solutions including: ‘BCXponent’; ‘Practice Economics’ and ‘Streamline’.

Efficiency and value

'This merger will result in an expanded presence and set of service offerings in key markets around the world and accelerate our utilisation of technology and innovation to redefine efficiency and value in the practice of law,' said Therese Pritchard, chair of Bryan Cave. 'Both firms have long traditions of building strong relationships – both with clients and within our firms. This legacy is reflected in shared values, including a core belief that our greatest asset is our people and our greatest responsibility is to our clients.'