Herbert Smith to merge with Australian firm Freehills

UK firm Herbert Smith is set for a full equity merger with Australia’s Freehills after the plan was given the green light by the partnerships of both firms. The firms are expected to merge on 1 October, creating a the largest firm by revenue in the Asia-Pacific region, with 2,800 lawyers, including 460 partners, and offices in Australia, Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom and the Middle East. Herbert Smith Freehills will be led by joint chief executives David Willis and Gavin Bell, the current managing partners of Herbert Smith and Freehills respectively. Mr. Bell comented on the deal, saying: “The merger will give Herbert Smith Freehills the platform to become the leading global law firm across Asia Pacific, a region likely to see continued substantial growth and to become an increasingly important part of the global legal services market.”

Herbert Smith to merge with Australian firm Freehills blogs.wsj.com Thu, Jun 28, 2012