Around the Firms

London firm DLA and the partners of Piper Rudnick started off December with a vote to merge the two firms, and thus the New Year brings about the world's third-largest law firm measured by lawyers ' and fifth-largest measured by revenues. The combined firm has more than 2000 lawyers in the United States, Europe and Asia. The merger makes DLA one of a few United Kingdom firms, including Clifford Chance, to combine with a major firm in the States.

According to Piper Co-Chairman Francis Burch Jr., the firms are working together on some extensive ventures, and also notes that two Gray Cary clients that are involved in European M&A deals received assistance from DLA.

The partnership of 1,030 will be represented by a 15-member global board; consisting of six DLA partners, six Piper Rudnick/Gray Cary partners, two independents from outside the firm, and the firm's non-executive chairman, former Sen. George Mitchell. The firm will be headed by three co-CEOs: Burch, DLA head Nigel Knowles and Lee Miller.

The combined firm faces many challenges, according to attorneys at other large firms. Peter Engstrom, a San Francisco partner at Baker & McKenzie, says DLA/Piper partners will confront all kinds of integration issues – from billing and financial systems to quality control. “To integrate an international law firm can't be done overnight. We've been at it 50 years,” he says.

But DLA/Piper leaders aren't showing concern in that regard. Burch, Knowles and Gray Cary Chairman J. Terence O'Malley say they are aiming for one firm, one global vision and one board. “We are not going to have a mid-Atlantic culture that would be a disaster to both firms,” Knowles says.

O'Malley expects the firm will see several new partners in the first quarter of 2005, with growth in corporate finance and patent litigation.

London firm DLA and the partners of Piper Rudnick started off December with a vote to merge the two firms, and thus the New Year brings about the world's third-largest law firm measured by lawyers ' and fifth-largest measured by revenues. The combined firm has more than 2000 lawyers in the United States, Europe and Asia. The merger makes DLA one of a few United Kingdom firms, including Clifford Chance, to combine with a major firm in the States.

According to Piper Co-Chairman Francis Burch Jr., the firms are working together on some extensive ventures, and also notes that two Gray Cary clients that are involved in European M&A deals received assistance from DLA.

The partnership of 1,030 will be represented by a 15-member global board; consisting of six DLA partners, six Piper Rudnick/Gray Cary partners, two independents from outside the firm, and the firm's non-executive chairman, former Sen. George Mitchell. The firm will be headed by three co-CEOs: Burch, DLA head Nigel Knowles and Lee Miller.

The combined firm faces many challenges, according to attorneys at other large firms. Peter Engstrom, a San Francisco partner at Baker & McKenzie, says DLA/Piper partners will confront all kinds of integration issues – from billing and financial systems to quality control. “To integrate an international law firm can't be done overnight. We've been at it 50 years,” he says.

But DLA/Piper leaders aren't showing concern in that regard. Burch, Knowles and Gray Cary Chairman J. Terence O'Malley say they are aiming for one firm, one global vision and one board. “We are not going to have a mid-Atlantic culture that would be a disaster to both firms,” Knowles says.

O'Malley expects the firm will see several new partners in the first quarter of 2005, with growth in corporate finance and patent litigation.