Speechly Bircham and Withers merger talks underway.
Talks are underway between Speechly Bircham and Withers over a £170m merger. They hope to create a firm with 11 global offices and around 500 lawyers, including 200 partners.
Both firms have a focus on private client work, while the deal is also seen as an opportunity to add Speechlys’ heftier City corporate and real estate practices to Withers’ international network in 10 locations.
A market commentator said: “What it’ll end up with is the world’s biggest private client firm. They’re probably culturally similar firms.”
A merger would put the combined outfit on the brink of the top 20 UK firms by turnover, with Addleshaw Goddard last year standing 21st on £170m.
How advanced the talks are is unclear, but a source with knowledge of the potential tie-up commented: “It’s premature to talk about it being a done deal.” The talks were first reported by legal website RollonFriday.
Withers partners are today gathered in Italy for the firm’s partnership conference. The firm has an office in the country, one of three bases on Continental Europe in Geneva, Milan and Zürich.
Speechlys’ offices are in London, Luxembourg and Zürich, with the latter two opening in June 2011.
The news also comes after Speechlys brought in Martin Lucas as its finance director earlier this year from US firm White & Case, where he was UK finance director. The firm moved into larger headquarters in New Street Square in 2008, later merging with West End firm Campbell Hooper in 2009 to propel it into the top 50 UK firms by revenue.
In January 2002 Withers merged with US firm Bergman Horowitz & Reynolds, while in 2011 it extended its reach to Singapore. Revenue increased from £100.8m in 2010/11 to £113.3m in 2011/12, while average profit per equity partner (PEP) was £386,000 for the latest financial year.
Speechlys’ turnover fell 3 per cent from £59.5m to £57.6m in 2011/12, with PEP dropping from £384,000 to £300,000.
In 2011/12 Withers had an average of 272 lawyers and 107 partners, in contrast to Speechlys’ 222 lawyers and 91 partners.
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