Womble Bond Dickinson (US) and Lewis Roca have approved a combination, creating a powerhouse firm of more than 1,300 attorneys in 37 offices in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Beginning on January 1, 2025, the combined firm will officially operate as Womble Bond Dickinson (US) and provide clients with enhanced capabilities across practices and sectors, as well as the resources of an expansive geographic platform.
Left to right: Merrick Benn, Chair- & CEO-Elect, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Betty Temple, Chair & CEO, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Kenneth Van Winkle, Managing Partner, Lewis Roca
Strategic Growth in Innovation Centers
Womble Bond Dickinson and Lewis Roca have offices in highly complementary locations, including mid-sized cities and larger markets. The combined firm will have a domestic footprint of 29 offices across 15 states and Washington D.C.
The two firms share a strategic vision for serving clients in fast-growing cities like Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C.
Deepening Capabilities Across Practices and Industries
Lewis Roca and Womble Bond Dickinson each bring a range of complementary practices that offer an impressive value proposition for clients. The combination adds depth and capabilities across multiple practice areas including IP, real estate, and finance (described below), corporate and securities, and complex litigation and disputes, as well as strategic sectors, including financial services, energy and natural resources, retail, gaming, life sciences, healthcare, and technology.
The combination will create a top-tier IP practice, with more than 250 attorneys and practitioners offering a full range of IP capabilities, from litigation to patent prosecution. The firms have important complementary practice areas in IP: WBD brings strength in IP litigation and life sciences, while Lewis Roca brings a deep bench in trademark and copyright litigation and mechanical, chemical, and software patents.
Lewis Roca has a robust real estate finance practice that provides extensive support on a range of complex transactions for clients, including large national banks and insurance companies, institutional investors and lenders, and finance and mortgage companies, as well as purchasers, developers, and property owners. That practice fits well with Womble Bond Dickinson's strong Real Estate and Finance, Bankruptcy, and Restructuring practices.
Womble Bond Dickinson has a highly regarded practice of 200+ financial lawyers in the US and UK. Combining with Lewis Roca will further deepen this offering for clients across the financial services spectrum, scaling up in important areas including syndicated lending, public finance, economic development, equipment finance, bankruptcy and restructuring, and project finance.
Strong Cultural Fit
The collaboration between Womble Bond Dickinson and Lewis Roca highlights our shared commitment to exceptional client relationships, superior service quality, and a dedication to diversity. This partnership leverages our combined strengths, setting the stage for long-term success and enhanced client satisfaction.
Both firms truly value building strong relationships, aiming to create long-lasting connections with clients and colleagues. You can see this commitment reflected in our client service programs and impressive client satisfaction data. We consistently outshine our peers in key areas like delivering quality service, offering practical advice, and maintaining responsive communication. Our Net Promoter Scores are above the industry average, highlighting how willing clients are to recommend us to others.
Both firms value and prioritize diversity similarly, recognizing it as an essential ingredient for long-term success. Having leaders from both firms committed to diversity enables the combined firm to apply more resources to address diversity challenges in an increasingly competitive market.
Many attorneys from Womble Bond Dickinson and Lewis Roca have built strong relationships over the years, working side by side for similar markets and clients. During our initial practice group meetings, it’s been clear that there’s a genuine connection and a shared dedication to our clients' success.
In the Media
“We thought that this would be a firm that would be worth having discussions with. Since a lot of others were reaching out to us, why not talk to one where we know some people?”
Kenneth Van Winkle, Managing Partner, Lewis Roca
“Both of our firms recognize there’s a need to build scale, to have a deeper bench, in order to provide the type of legal services that our clients need, both in terms of skill set and also geographical reach.”
Merrick Benn, Chair- & CEO-Elect, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
“This will give us the chance to offer more career opportunities for our talent, just like the U.K. merger did. It's crucial that we provide these opportunities, as we believe they are key to our firm's culture and to retaining our people.”
Betty Temple, Chair & CEO, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
The tie-up will also see Womble Bond Dickinson gain strength in IP disputes and expand its presence in the Southwest and Mountain West, where Lewis Roca has eight offices across California, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. Conversely, it will expand Lewis Roca's reach across the US, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, and see it gain an international presence through Womble Bond Dickinson's eight UK offices, operated by the firm's UK LLP.
With a planned effective date of January 1, 2025, we’re excited about the possibilities this partnership offers to innovate and serve you better. Our shared commitment to providing exceptional client service and cultivating strong relationships will only enhance our capabilities to better understand and meet your needs.
This cultural alignment boosts our shared capabilities and enhances our ability to innovate and serve you better.
