Taylor Wessing confirms merger with US firm Winston & Strawn, creating a 1,400-lawyer practice
Taylor Wessing has confirmed it will merge its UK arm with US law firm Winston & Strawn in a deal that will create a transatlantic practice of around 1,400 lawyers.
The combination, expected to be completed in May 2026, subject to partner approval, will see the merged firm operate under the name Winston Taylor. The move follows weeks of speculation about talks between the two firms and marks another major step in the ongoing consolidation of the global legal market.
Chicago-headquartered Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing UK said the merger would bring together complementary strengths across the United States, the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Once completed, the firm will have 20 offices worldwide, with London positioned as a key hub.
Steve D’Amore, chairman of Winston & Strawn, said the merger fulfilled a long-held ambition to expand in the UK. He will remain chairman of the combined firm. He said the deal would allow Winston to grow in London while preserving the firm’s culture, agility and focus on client service.
Embed from Getty ImagesShane Gleghorn, managing partner of Taylor Wessing UK, will take on the role of managing partner for Europe and the Middle East at Winston Taylor. He said the two firms shared values, culture and a commitment to high-quality client service, adding that the merger would create strong transatlantic capabilities across key practice areas and sectors.
Under the agreement, Taylor Wessing offices in the Netherlands and Belgium will also operate under the Winston Taylor brand. Other members of the wider Taylor Wessing alliance will not be part of the merger.
Oliver Bertram, global co-chair and managing partner of Taylor Wessing Germany, said the alliance would continue as an independent European network. He said the strategy was to combine close cooperation with international partners while continuing to grow Taylor Wessing as a European legal services business driven by innovation and delivery.
From May 2026, the Taylor Wessing alliance will comprise affiliates in Germany, France, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary and China, as well as representative offices in San Francisco and New York.
The merger follows a series of high-profile transatlantic tie-ups as UK and US firms seek to expand their global reach and strengthen their presence in key commercial centres. Once completed, Winston Taylor will join a growing group of firms competing for cross-border work in areas including corporate, disputes and finance.
Both firms said further details would be shared as the integration process progresses, subject to regulatory and partner approvals.