Herbert Smith to leave alliance after 'best friends' reject formal merger

Merger negotiations between Herbert Smith and its alliance partners have fallen through, thwarting the UK-based firm’s plans for the next step in a ten-year alliance. German firm Gleiss Lutz and Benelux firm Stibbe have worked with Herbert Smith in a ‘best friends’ arrangement over the past decade, sharing work, expertise and branding. Now that Herbert Smith’s European alliance partners have rejected its plan for a formal merger, Herbies has announced that it will quit the alliance entirely. A spokesman said "we are now firmly in control of our international expansion and are pressing ahead with our plans to achieve this. We have the utmost respect for our Alliance partners and look forward to maintaining the good relationships we have developed with colleagues at Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe over the years."

Herbert Smith to leave alliance after 'best friends' reject formal merger rollonfriday.com Sat, Nov 26, 2011