Merger Watch

Linda Woolley

Kingsley Napley seals first acquisition in two decades

Kingsley Napley has acquired an employment boutique, as the criminal defence specialists seek to build out its employment practice in its first bolt-on deal since the mid-90s. Archon Solicitors will join Kingsley Napley’s offices and cease to operate as an independent firm at the end of September. This merger comes on the back of a […]

A&O and O’Melveny call off transatlantic merger

After over a year of discussions between the pair, Allen & Overy and O’Melveny & Myers have called off their proposed merger. In a joint statement, the firms said: “Allen & Overy and O’Melveny & Myers have held discussions about a possible combination and, despite agreeing that there were some compelling synergies between us and […]

Penningtons Manches bags “Goldilocks merger” with Thomas Cooper

Penningtons Manches is to merge with London shipping specialist Thomas Cooper to create a £90m firm, the latest development in ongoing mid-tier consolidation. The merger is due to go live on 31 June and the combined firm will be known as Penningtons Manches Cooper. Thomas Cooper managing partner Tim Kelleher will join the management board […]

The Bonelli-Lombardi merger will leave its rivals in the shade, but integration won’t be easy

The largest merger in the Italian legal market in over 30 years started out in the tiniest possible way. A casual conversation between Giuseppe Lombardi, founder of litigation boutique Lombardi e Associati, and Sergio Erede, one of the three lawyers who twenty years ago founded corporate powerhouse BonelliErede alongside Aurelio Pappalardo and the late Franco […]

Italian firm braced for split ahead of Bonelli merger talks

BonelliErede’s potential merger with a litigation-focused firm has met a stumbling block, The Lawyer understands, with one of the target’s offices eyeing a move away to another Italian powerhouse. As discussions between BonelliErede and local law firm Lombardi Segni continue, sources with knowledge of the negotiations said corporate partner Antonio Segni and his Rome-based team are understood […]

Ince to go public after striking a deal with Gordon Dadds

Gordon Dadds and Ince & Co have agreed to a £110m tie-up, in a move that will create the UK’s largest listed law firm by revenue. It was announced on the London Stock Exchange this morning that Aim-listed Gordon Dadds has agreed terms to acquire Ince, including its international LLP. The new firm will be […]

London

Cripps to merge with Pemberton Greenish in bid for South East weight

In a move that will further open up the lower mid-market, South East firm Cripps is to significantly expand its London presence through a merger with £11.6m property and private wealth-focused Pemberton Greenish – a deal that will see it overtake regional stalwarts such as Walker Morris and Foot Anstey. The December deal will create […]

Aldgate

Divisions emerge as Ince partners gather for merger debrief

A proposed merger with Gordon Dadds will be high on the agenda at Ince & Co‘s partner conference in London this weekend, with at least one of the insurance firm’s international offices already understood to have voiced their opposition to the deal. The Lawyer understands that Ince’s Paris office has told senior management it will not […]

glasgow scotland

TLT seals deal with real estate firm for second Scottish bolt-on

TLT has acquired Glasgow commercial real estate firm Leslie Wolfson to enhance its offering in the Scottish city and add three partners to its more than 200-strong real estate practice. Leslie Wolfson senior partner Howard Beach joins the Bristol-headquartered firm along with partners Andrew McCowan and Donna Strong, while Alan Carlton – Leslie Wolfson’s fourth […]

DWF growth plans accelerate with new US association

DWF has gained a firm foothold in the US after announcing an association with Los Angeles-headquartered Wood Smith Henning & Berman (WSHB), giving it access to 22 locations in the world’s largest legal market. The deal marks another huge step for DWF and is the first major announcement the firm has made since the news […]