Law firm Squire Sanders, which has an office in Birmingham, has announced plans to merge with Patton Boggs in a deal that will see the combined firm operating from 45 offices in 21 countries.
Operating under the name Squire Patton Boggs, the combined firm will consist of approximately 1,600 lawyers, placing it among the top 25 firms globally in terms of lawyer headcount, and eighth by the number of countries where it has offices. The firm will also rank as one of the top 10 largest firms in Washington DC with approximately 280 lawyers and among the largest in the United States with roughly 785 lawyers.
The firm said the merger, which is expected to take effect from June 1, would result in “a broader and deeper client offering, with complementary practice areas and industry expertise that create a catalyst for increased growth”.
Jim Maiwurm, chair and global CEO of Squire Sanders, said: “Today marks an important day in the history of our firm. Patton Boggs is the premier public policy firm in the world, and this combination establishes us as the ‘go-to’ firm for public policy work.
“We also gain a leading position in the Middle East and several new locations in the United States, while deepening our bench in a number of important practices areas, all of which strengthen our service platform.”
He added: “Through our discussions we have gained a great deal of respect for the partnership and culture of Patton Boggs.
“We are very pleased to combine leading global and public policy firms with diverse and strong practices and client bases, strong regional positions and international orientations.
“Together we will be uniquely positioned to respond to the needs of business clients around the world.”
Ed Newberry, managing partner of Patton Boggs, added: “Squire Sanders is recognised as a one of the industry’s leading global law firms with practice and industry expertise in key financial markets spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
“The platform and collective expertise created through this combination provide considerable opportunities to access new markets, engage clients in new ways and attract and retain top talent. I couldn’t be more excited for the future of our firm.”
