In one of the more anticipated tie-ups this year, Squire Sanders and Patton Boggs effectively tied the knot yesterday in a merger that will bring together 1,600 lawyers in 45 offices in 21 countries around the world.
Operating under the name Squire Patton Boggs, the combined firm brings together Squire Sanders’ top ranked global legal platform and Patton Boggs’ preeminent public policy, white collar and other practices to provide clients with “unparalleled geographic reach, breadth and depth of practice capabilities and unmatched knowledge in matters where law, government and business intersect,” according to a firm statement. The merger was approved May 23.
The merger places the new firm among the top 25 firms globally in terms of lawyer headcount, and eighth by number of countries where they have offices, as per The American Lawyer 2013 Global 100. The firm will also rank as one of the top 10 largest firms in Washington D.C. with approximately 280 lawyers and will have roughly 785 lawyers n the United States.
According to a firm statement: “The merger of Squire Sanders and Patton Boggs will result in a broader and deeper client offering, with complementary practice areas and industry expertise that create a catalyst for increased growth. The firm will be characterized by leading practice groups in areas such as corporate, complex litigation, investigations and white collar defense, intellectual property, public policy, regulatory, capital markets, labor & employment, restructuring and insolvency, real estate, sovereign representation, tax, and public and infrastructure finance. The combined firm will offer leading industry experience in sectors including banking and financial services, energy, utilities, insurance, life sciences, healthcare, transportation, technology and telecommunications.”
“Today marks an important day in the history of our firm,” said Jim Maiwurm, Chair and Global CEO of Squire Sanders. “Patton Boggs is the premier public policy firm in the world, and this combination establishes us as the ‘go-to’ firm for public policy work. We also gain a leading position in the Middle East and several new locations in the United States, while deepening our bench in a number of important practices areas, all of which strengthen our service platform.”
He added: “Through our discussions we have gained a great deal of respect for the partnership and culture of Patton Boggs. We are very pleased to combine leading global and public policy firms with diverse and strong practices and client bases, strong regional positions and international orientations. Together we will be uniquely positioned to respond to the needs of business clients around the world.”
Ed Newberry, Managing Partner of Patton Boggs, echoed the sentiment. “Squire Sanders is recognized as a one of the industry’s leading global law firms with practice and industry expertise in key financial markets spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East,” “The platform and collective expertise created through this combination provide considerable opportunities to access new markets, engage clients in new ways and attract and retain top talent. I couldn’t be more excited for the future of our firm.”
“Since the time Patton Boggs was founded over 50 years ago we set out to create an innovative firm that brings legal expertise and lobbying know-how to government and business leaders around the world. That firm evolved into an industry game-changer,” said Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr., chairman of Patton Boggs. “Through our combination with Squire Sanders we are doing it again, by bringing together our rich experience with one of the world’s most expansive practice and geographic footprints.”
Squire Sanders Chairman-Elect Mark Ruehlmann, will become Chair and Global CEO on January 1, 2015, when Jim Maiwurm’s term expires.
Ruehlmann said the goal is to create a platform that allows the firm’s lawyers to serve their clients no matter where in the world their business needs take them.
“We have made great strides in this regard, and the completion of this merger marks another significant milestone that will position us to become even more competitive in an increasingly global marketplace where clients require specialized expertise,” Ruehlmann
