International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has announced a combination with multi-practice firm Lewis Roca in the US, creating a powerhouse firm of more than 1,300 lawyers in 37 offices in the United States and the United Kingdom.
With a planned effective date of 1 January 2025, the firm will operate as Womble Bond Dickinson, and be led in the US by incoming Chair and CEO Merrick Benn and Vice Chair Kenneth Van Winkle. The firm is led in the UK by Managing Partner Paul Stewart and Chair Alexander Dickinson.
The new firm which based on gross revenue of more than £565 million would have ranked 70th on the 2024 Am Law 100, will further each firm’s commitment to growth in regions that are innovating and leading technological change.
Lewis Roca’s offices will deepen WBD's growing presence in the Mountain West, while WBD's expansive platform in regions including the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast will broaden Lewis Roca’s reach across America.
Paul Stewart, Managing Partner of WBD UK, said:
"We are excited for our clients and our people as our overall reach and footprint continues to grow.
Our transatlantic partnership thrives on the deep-rooted cultural alignment between our UK and US teams and we are united by a mutual dedication to providing outstanding client service and value and a shared emphasis on key sectors and industries.
We look forward to further helping UK clients reach their international objectives thanks to Lewis Roca’s sector-leading expertise and credentials.”
The combination means the firm now has greater depth and increased competitiveness in practice areas including finance, intellectual property, real estate, and corporate and commercial, with significant synergies across sectors teams including financial services, energy and natural resources, and manufacturing.
Betty Temple, Chair and CEO of WBD US, said:
“One of the first parallels that emerged between our two firms was a shared strategic vision for serving clients in fast-growing cities and innovation hubs.
The combined firm’s platform will offer greater depth in these high-growth markets and beyond, empowering our lawyers to deliver sophisticated and multi-faceted legal counsel to companies at the forefront of change and disruption. We have been energized by the strong cultural alignment and connections we’ve experienced already and look forward to further integrating our teams.”
Kenneth Van Winkle, Managing Partner of Lewis Roca, said:
“This combination is a natural fit and a clear win-win, with both firms placing a high value on genuine and long-term relationships with clients and colleagues, a shared focus on collaborating with transparency and integrity, and a wide range of complementary practices that offer a unique value proposition for clients.
Bringing together our vast capabilities, resources, and experience is a rare opportunity to take both firms to new heights and chart a path for our ongoing success. We could not be more excited about the many opportunities that lie ahead for our clients, lawyers, and professional staff.”