On the 17th of November, the UK Silver Circle firm Ashurst agreed on a merger with the US firm Perkins Coie, which has the chance to create a new global powerhouse in the legal space.
The transatlantic merger is comparable to that of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling in May of last year, which was intended to provide both firms with a larger access to clientele and to previously untapped markets.
The merger will supposedly generate £2.05 billion of revenue next year. Rather than conforming to the typical practice of having a global headquarters, it has been revealed that the newly merged firm will have flagship offices in key cities such as London, New York, Seattle and Sydney.
The leadership of the merger will be shared by the CEO of Perkins Coei, Bill Malley, and the CEO of Ashurst, Paul Jenkins, who will operate as global co-CEOs.
Bill Malley said that “our clients face challenges and opportunities that are not only global but also increasingly complex. To meet this moment, we must strengthen our ability to deliver trusted legal guidance seamlessly across borders”.
This merger suggests that a larger amount of European firms will merge with American firms in the future, in order to compensate for the increasing complexity and global demands of the legal environment.
Potential benefits to Ashurst
- Entry into America’s booming tech market and Silicon Valley revenue streams.
- Gain of over 300 privacy and tech experts bolstering their energy and infrastructure deals.
Potential benefits to Perkins Coie
- Global stability after the turmoil of Trump’s blocking of their executive order.
- Access to Ashurst’s expansive energy and finance clientele.
- Access to 1,600 new lawyers with expertise in litigation and transactional work.
Potential risks to both parties
- Short term redundancies could negatively impact morale.
- Success hinges on how smoothly AI is integrated and economic factors.
Written by George Hocking
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© George Hocking, 2025
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