Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP and Bryan Cave LLP are to merge, creating a new firm in April 2018 named Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.
Berwin Leighton Paisner was already a tier-one firm for commercial property in the Legal 500, and was last year named Real Estate Legal Team of the Year in the EG Awards.
The combined firm will rank fourth globally for pure real estate partners, according to figures in the Lawyer’s Global 200 Real Estate Report.
Taking in all areas of practice, it will have around 1,600 lawyers operating in 11 countries.
The new combined firm will be led by co-chairs Therese Pritchard and managing partner Lisa Mayhew.
“Our combination is rooted in a shared determination to do something fresh and different for clients,” said Mayhew.
“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.”
Pritchard, chair of Bryan Cave, said: “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.
“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.”
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