Dewey Ballantine and LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae agree to merge

DEWEY BALLANTINE LLP and LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP have entered into a definitive agreement to merge, subject to partner approval. The combination will create a New York law firm with extensive global reach, with more than 1,300 attorneys in 12 countries and revenues approaching $1bn. The combined firm, which will be known as Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, includes bases in New York, Washington, D.C., and London, and ranks 13th globally, and third among US firms in terms of number of countries covered, as per ALM ‘Global 100 2006’. It will rank as the fifth largest firm in New York City with approximately 550 lawyers and the fifth largest US-headquartered firm in London, with approximately 170 lawyers. Steven H. Davis will lead the combined firm as chairman, with equal representation from Dewey Ballantine and LeBoeuf Lamb on its executive committee. The firms hope that the merger will result in a broader and deeper client offering with complementary practice areas and industry focus. The combined firm will be characterised by practice groups including mergers and acquisitions, complex litigation, intellectual property litigation, government investigations, international trade, capital markets, structured finance, private equity, antitrust, and tax. “This strategic combination will create a premier New York law firm with extensive global reach,” said LeBoeuf Lamb’s chairman, Steven H. Davis. “The quality, scale and scope we will offer as a combined firm will enable us to continue attracting the most prominent clients and to address complex and challenging legal issues our clients face on a national and global basis. Combining our strengths and collective resources into one organisation advances LeBoeuf Lamb’s goal to broaden and deepen our practice offerings and global presence, add highly skilled and dynamic lawyers, and continue to focus on increasing profitability.”