Bird & Bird has signed a merger agreement with Sydney-based law firm Truman Hoyle, with the move helping the U.K. firm to open its first Australian office.
The merger is slated to go live on Nov. 3, and current Truman Hoyle managing partner Shane Barber will lead the new office, which will be called Bird & Bird Australia.
“Our new Australia operation will be a crucial part of our integrated service offering in the Asia-Pacific region and internationally, serving Asia-based and international clients on complex cross-border work, as well as building a sound, domestic Australian business,” said Justin Walkey, Bird & Bird’s Asia-Pacific chairman, in a statement.
Bird & Bird has functioned in an alliance with Truman Hoyle since March 2013. The firm also has alliances with Hwang Mok Park in South Korea and K&K Advocates and Nurjadin Sumono Mulyadi & Partners in Indonesia in the Asia-Pacific region, with offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai.
After the merger takes effect, Bird & Bird will have 27 offices and 1,200 lawyers worldwide, with Bird & Bird Australia comprising eight partners and 25 fee-earners.
