New | Dentons, Dacheng sign merger to create world’s biggest law firm

Top 10 global law firm Dentons signed a merger today with leading Chinese firm Dacheng, creating the world’s largest law firm, the second foreign and Chinese law firm merger in the past three years.

The new firm, which will be continued to be called Dentons in English but features a bilingual Chinese and English logo, will have more than 6,500 lawyers and professionals in 120 locations across 50 countries. It will service all 31 of mainland China’s regional administrative divisions.

“With no one global headquarters and no dominant national culture, the firm will proudly offer clients talent from diverse backgrounds and countries, with deep experience across many geographies and every tradition of law. The new firm offers the local cultural understanding required to get a deal done or dispute resolved in communities around the world,” the statement said.

Formed in March 2013, Dentons is the result of a merger between a French, UK and Canadian firm. Meanwhile, Beijing-headquartered Dacheng is one of the first and largest law firms in China with over 4,000 licensed attorneys.

The merger follows the union of prestigious Chinese firm King & Wood with Australian firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques in 2012. These types of tie-ups are seen as a way for foreign law firms to access Chinese clients as foreign lawyers face restrictions on the mainland that make litigation difficult.

Peng Xuefeng, a founding partner of Dacheng will become chairman of the new firm’s global board and advisory committee. Joe Andrew, currently the chairman of Dentons, will be the global chairman and Elliott Portnoy, global chief executive Dentons, will be the global chief executive officer of the new firm.