U.K. firms Clyde & Co and Barlow Lyde & Gilbert have formalized plans for a merger after partnership votes at both firms approved the union. The merger, which will be completed on 1 Nov 2011, will create a firm with a headcount of 270 partners, over 1,250 fee earners and approximately 2,250 staff operating from 27 offices.
“Given the positive reactions from both our partnerships and the market, we are now in a position to move forward rigorously. We have immense respect for the partners, lawyers and staff at BLG, whose practices complement rather than duplicate those of Clyde & Co,” Clyde & Co chief executive Peter Hansson said.
The combined firm will retain the name Clyde & Co.
The agreement to retain the Clyde & Co brand stems from the greater geographical coverage and recognition of Clyde & Co in North America, the Middle East and Asia, a press statement released jointly by both firms said. The decision also took into account Clyde’s broader sector focus across transport, trade, infrastructure, energy and commodities.
London-based Clyde & Co senior partner Michael Payton will become the senior partner of the combined firm with Simon Konsta, senior partner of BLG, and two other BLG partners taking roles on the board. One of these will be current BLG CEO, David Jabbari, who will become chief operating officer of the combined firm.
According to Jabbari, both firms’ strong insurance practices gives the soon-to-be merged entity “a huge amount of common ground and similar cultures with which to work.”ALB
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