Further consolidation of the Australian legal market this year is on the cards according to recent reports.
The Mallesons dalliance with Clifford Chance is a well known tale. The on-off affair was most recently off again in 2008 as the GFC took hold. Rumour is that it might be back on again, although there is speculation that other UK firms are also on the phone.
The Managing Partner at Corrs Chambers Wesgarth recently confirmed to the AFR, “I have been approached about firm mergers domestically and internationally. It’s fair to say that in the last six months there’s been a heightened level of activity in this.” According to a Firmspy report, the domestic discussion might be with Blakes.
RollOnFriday readers will also recall the changes going on at DLA Phillips Fox, as a full scale merger with DLA Piper looms on the horizon.
If cross border mergers do occur it will be in line with trends across the Atlantic. Denton Wilde Sapte and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal are expected to approve a formal merger to become SNR Denton next week, and Hogan Lovells recently came out as bedfellows.
Stay tuned.
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The Mallesons dalliance with Clifford Chance is a well known tale. The on-off affair was most recently off again in 2008 as the GFC took hold. Rumour is that it might be back on again, although there is speculation that other UK firms are also on the phone.
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Lawyers seeking an Australian merger yesterday |
The Managing Partner at Corrs Chambers Wesgarth recently confirmed to the AFR, “I have been approached about firm mergers domestically and internationally. It’s fair to say that in the last six months there’s been a heightened level of activity in this.” According to a Firmspy report, the domestic discussion might be with Blakes.
RollOnFriday readers will also recall the changes going on at DLA Phillips Fox, as a full scale merger with DLA Piper looms on the horizon.
If cross border mergers do occur it will be in line with trends across the Atlantic. Denton Wilde Sapte and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal are expected to approve a formal merger to become SNR Denton next week, and Hogan Lovells recently came out as bedfellows.
Stay tuned.