British legal practice Ashurst plans to combine operations with American counterpart Perkins Coie in a transaction creating a top-20 global firm by revenue with 3,000 attorneys across more than 50 locations. The partnership, expected to finalize during the third quarter of 2026 pending approval votes, will generate approximately $2.7 billion in annual receipts under the Ashurst Perkins Coie designation, with leadership shared between Paul Jenkins and Bill Malley as co-chief executives.
The combination grants Ashurst substantial presence within the lucrative American market through Perkins Coie's 17 domestic offices while extending the Seattle-based firm's international reach across technology, energy infrastructure, and financial services sectors. Strategic advisors characterized the merger as transformational for developing deeper practice capabilities and institutional client relationships spanning multiple jurisdictions.
The agreement advances consolidation trends among transatlantic legal firms pursuing enhanced scale to compete for cross-border work, with 47 American mergers completed through three quarters of 2025.
The combination grants Ashurst substantial presence within the lucrative American market through Perkins Coie's 17 domestic offices while extending the Seattle-based firm's international reach across technology, energy infrastructure, and financial services sectors. Strategic advisors characterized the merger as transformational for developing deeper practice capabilities and institutional client relationships spanning multiple jurisdictions.
The agreement advances consolidation trends among transatlantic legal firms pursuing enhanced scale to compete for cross-border work, with 47 American mergers completed through three quarters of 2025.
