UK firms Allens and Linklaters zero in on Washington DC market

Two UK magic circle firms are focusing their attention upon Washington DC, with Allen & Overy announcing that it is set to launch a new office in the US capital, while Linklaters considers making the same move. If Linklaters pursues the move it will mean that four of the five magic circle firms will have offices in DC, since Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Clifford Chanceare already operating in the city. The other member of the circle, Slaughter and May, has no plans for an office in DC. This article charts the entry of Freshfields and Clifford Chance into the DC market, and assesses their performance there, comparing it to the arrival of other UK law firms like DLA Piper and Lovells. It is observed that these non-circle firms seem to have pursued large mergers with US players to form robust practices.

UK firms Allens and Linklaters zero in on Washington DC market law.com Wed, Aug 10, 2011