Report suggests the firm is in merger talks with Boekel de Nerée
Global super-giant Dentons is eyeing up a Dutch law firm, according to the latest merger gossip.
In its seemingly continued quest for world domination, Dentons is understood to be in discussions with Amsterdam-headquartered outfit Boekel de Nerée.
Dentons is by far the larger of the two firms. With over 6,500 lawyers spanning 50 countries, the firm — thanks in part to its 2015 unification with Chinese colossus Dacheng — is the largest in the world by headcount.
Boasting a turnover of £2 billion, Dentons — which offers around 30 UK-based training contracts annually — performed well in Legal Cheek’s 2016 Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey. Scoring an A* for peer support, the firm racked up As for training, quality of work, partner approachability and, perhaps most importantly for young lawyers, social life.
In stark contrast, Boekel de Nerée has just 70 lawyers. With offices in Amsterdam and London, the firm — which tackles everything from banking to environmental law — is seeking “long-term growth” according to an anonymous source quoted by the The Lawyer (£).
A spokesperson for Dentons, declining to comment on the rumours specifically, told Legal Cheek:
Like every major law firm we are constantly evaluating the market for opportunities to further enhance our business for the benefit of our clients. Given our desire to support our clients with the deepest and broadest experience possible, at any given time we are likely to be in discussion with many groups of individuals and firms across the world. We do not, however, make any comment on such discussions until they are complete to protect the privacy of those involved and to ensure our clients are the first to be informed of any enhancement to our firm.
Last week, Norton Rose Fulbright confirmed it was in transatlantic merger talks with New York-headquartered Chadbourne & Parke. Legal Cheek understands that discussions are in their “advanced stages”, with a Norton Rose Fulbright spokesperson stating “the combination would provide an even stronger global platform for our clients”.
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