DLA Piper confirms Australia merger
DLA Piper, which has an office in Birmingham, is set to merge with Australian business law firm DLA Phillips Fox. The deal will create what is believed to be the biggest business law firm in the world, which will create an estimated annual revenue of £195m.
Both firms said that they expect to gain “overwhelming partner consent” for the integration by the end of February with the agreement becoming effective on 1 May 2011.
The merger will allow the firm to work across 30 countries and over 70 offices, accommodating over 4,000 lawyers.
Russell Orme, managing partner of DLA Piper Birmingham, said: "The Birmingham office of DLA Piper has a close relationship with DLA Phillips Fox. We share some key client relationships and have worked with them on a number of major multijurisdictional transactions.
"We welcome the integration as a very positive move. Our clients tell us that one of the key reasons they do business with us is because of the strength and depth of our full service capability globally. Asia Pacific is a key market for many major corporates. The economy in Australia has remained reasonably buoyant and has strong prospects for future growth."
On completion of the deal, DLA Piper's Asia managing director Alastair Da Costa will become managing director for the whole of the Asia Pacific business.
The combined practice is expected to generate revenues of more than £195m and will comprise more than 700 lawyers in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Thailand.
DLA Phillips Fox’s chief executive Tony Holland will continue to manage operations in Australia, as DLA Piper's regional managing partner.
He said: "We have had a good understanding of the globalisation of business and of the legal market for some time and our affiliation with DLA Piper has enabled us to service clients who are looking to grow internationally. This full integration with DLA Piper will allow us to grow and better meet our Australian clients’ increasingly global needs and the needs of DLA Piper's global clients."
