Back
in
September,
we
reported
that
there
was
“heightened”
interest
in
transatlantic
mergers
between
U.K.
and
U.S.
firms
in
the
wake
of
the
A&O
Shearman
merger,
which
joined
U.K.
firm
Allen
&
Overy
and
U.S.
firm
Shearman
&
Sterling.
Now,
just
two
months
later,
we’ve
got
news
of
yet
another
major
merger
announcement
between
U.K.
and
U.S.
firms
—
and
this
merger
is
set
to
create
a
Biglaw
giant.
U.K.-based
Herbert
Smith
Freehills
—
No.
34
on
the
Global
200
—
and
New
York-based
Kramer
Levin
Naftalis
&
Frankel
—
No.
141
on
the
Global
200
—
have
jointly
announced
that
they’ll
be
combining
to
form
Herbert
Smith
Freehills
Kramer,
aka
HSF
Kramer.
The
merged
firm
will
have
2,700
lawyers
and
is
expected
to
have
at
least
$2
billion
in
revenue,
putting
it
on
track
to
rank
in
the
top
25
on
a
global
scale.
HSF
operates
in
16
countries,
while
Kramer
Levin
has
three
offices
in
the
U.S.
and
one
office
abroad,
in
Paris.
The
Paris
office,
however,
will
not
be
included
in
the
merger.
As
noted
by
Law.com
International,
here’s
what
the
firms’
leaders
had
to
say
about
the
monumental
decision
to
merge:
“This
is
transformational.
We
have
long
been
committed
to
expanding
our
offering
in
the
U.S.,
and
Kramer
Levin
is
the
perfect
fit,”
said
HSF’s
chair
and
senior
partner,
Rebecca
Maslen-Stannage.
“The
combination
delivers
immediate
growth
for
both
firms
from
day
one.”
…“This
is
an
excellent
long-term,
strategic
move
for
our
firms,
our
clients
and
our
people—a
bold
opportunity
to
build
an
exciting
international
firm
together,
based
on
our
strong
cultures
of
collaboration,
superb
clients
and
people,
and
our
existing
areas
of
strength,”
said
HSF
CEO
Justin
D’Agostine.
“This
is
just
the
beginning.”Kramer
Levin’s
co-managing
partner
Howard
T.
Spilko
said,
“Joining
forces
with
Herbert
Smith
Freehills
is
a
one-of-a-kind
opportunity
that
helps
us
achieve
our
vision
and
potential
for
strategic
growth.
The
combination
provides
us
with
a
significant
competitive
advantage
by
bolstering
our
destination
practices
with
a
deeper
bench,
broader
geographic
reach
and
sector
expertise,
while
providing
the
opportunity
to
collaborate
to
achieve
great
outcomes
for
clients
internationally.”
In
a
joint
statement,
HSF
and
Kramer
Levin
said
that
their
“close
cultural
alignment
and
shared
vision
for
the
future
significantly
bolsters
the
combined
firm’s
ability
to
attract
and
retain
the
very
best
talent.”
A
partner
vote
on
the
merger
is
expected
to
occur
at
both
firms
by
February
2025.
Congratulations
to
Herbert
Smith
Freehills
and
Kramer
Levin
on
their
impending
tie-up.
Best
of
luck
to
both
firms
as
their
merger
plans
unfold.
Kramer
Levin
to
Merge
With
Herbert
Smith
Freehills
[American
Lawyer]
Herbert
Smith
Freehills
Merger
Omits
Kramer
Levin
Paris
Office
[Bloomberg
Law]
Staci
Zaretsky is
a
senior
editor
at
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
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