Transatlantic tie-up will unite around 3,000 lawyers across more than 50 offices worldwide
Partners at transatlantic law firms Ashurst and Perkins Coie have voted overwhelmingly to approve their proposed combination, clearing a major milestone in the creation of a new global firm, Ashurst Perkins Coie.
The merged firm is expected to launch in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, and will bring together approximately 3,000 lawyers across more than 50 offices worldwide with combined revenues of around $2.8 billion.
The tie-up represents one of the most significant recent transatlantic law firm mergers and is expected to create a top-20 global practice by revenue, strengthening the firms’ ability to advise clients on complex cross-border matters.
Both firms confirmed that the partner vote followed an extensive consultation process and reflected strong backing for the combination.
In a joint statement, the firms said the approval demonstrated confidence in the strategic logic of bringing together practices with complementary geographic reach, sector strengths and capabilities across transactions and disputes.
The combined firm is expected to focus on key sectors including technology, energy and infrastructure, and financial services, while maintaining strength in complex transactional work and litigation.
Under the agreed structure, Ashurst global chief executive Paul Jenkins and Perkins Coie managing partner Bill Malley will serve as co-CEOs of the combined firm.
Jenkins said the partner vote confirmed “strong alignment” between the firms and their shared ambitions for the future as they move toward integration.
The merger has been described as a “combination of equals”, bringing together firms with broadly comparable scale and complementary strengths across major global markets.
Once completed, the integration will create a fully combined international platform spanning North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and key financial centres worldwide, positioning the firm to respond to growing demand for cross-border legal advice from multinational clients.
The vote also marks the latest example of consolidation across the global legal sector, as firms continue to pursue scale and geographic reach through strategic mergers.