A merger of Dentons US LLP and McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP has been approved by the partners of both firms. The news builds on the momentum of the previously announced combination between Dentons and 大成, creating the world's largest law firm. Clients inside the US will gain unrivaled access to markets around the world, and international clients will enjoy increased strength and reach across the US. 

Committed to delivering the highest quality legal counsel at home and abroad, Dentons will serve clients from more than 125 locations across 50-plus countries. It will boast approximately 6,600 lawyers and professionals worldwide, with more than 1,100 of them based in the United States. The team will span 21 US locations, including Albany, NY; Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Houston; Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles; Miami; New Orleans; New York; Orange County, CA; Phoenix; San Diego; San Francisco; Short Hills, NJ; Silicon Valley, CA; St. Louis; Tysons Corner, VA; and Washington, DC.

The merger will:

Significantly enhance client service across practices and sectors. Virtually every sector and practice group will gain added depth, breadth and geographic reach, creating, among other disciplines:

• A substantially enhanced Corporate practice
• A national Litigation powerhouse, offering a full range of services in the largest US litigation markets
• The world's dominant Real Estate practice, with sizeable presence in key industry centers in the US including Atlanta, California, Chicago and New York
• A major competitive advantage in Insurance
• A premier Public Policy and Regulation practice in the US, both in Washington, DC, and around the US, also with a new US-Canada focus
• A preeminent US Government Contracts practice
• An Intellectual Property practice with substantial presence in leading markets such as Silicon Valley, Washington, DC, New York and San Diego

Enhance Dentons' offerings in key US markets. Following the merger, Dentons will have a substantially increased presence in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, DC,  and new capabilities in Denver, San Diego, Orange County, CA, and Albany, NY, providing the firm a significantly enhanced position in the Southeastern US and the Western US, including California, the third-largest US market.

Create global synergies. Building on Dentons' global platform and the upcoming combination of Dentons and 大成, this merger will enable Dentons US to offer even more services in more places to more clients. Dentons currently offers the fifth-largest presence in Canada; combining that with McKenna Long’s US-Canadian practice will make the new Dentons the premier firm for US-Canada work. McKenna Long’s Seoul office will advance the firm's inroads into the fast-growing Asia Pacific market. International clients seeking access to US markets will take advantage of the merged firm’s expanded American footprint. Clients in the US and around the globe will also benefit from the united team of influential and experienced government affairs professionals between Dentons US and McKenna Long. This team includes former national party officials, ambassadors, former members of the US Congress and top aides to US presidents, governors and senators.

Leverage Dentons’ polycentric approach on behalf of clients. Both Dentons and McKenna Long embrace the diversity of our people, geography, cultures, legal traditions and clients. Dentons will have no dominant national culture or single headquarters. This polycentric approach benefits clients competing in globalized markets and sectors. It offers legal talent from diverse backgrounds and countries and with deep experience in every type of law, including civil law, common law, Shari'ah law and Chinese law.

Dentons US will be led by Co-Chief Executive Officers Jeff Haidet, the Chairman of McKenna Long, and Peter Wolfson, the CEO of Dentons US. Mike McNamara, who currently serves as Managing Partner of Dentons US, will be the Managing Partner of the merged Dentons US. Leadership in the firm's other regions will remain unchanged. Globally, Dentons will continue to be led by Elliott Portnoy as Global Chief Executive, Joe Andrew as Global Chairman, and, after the launch of the combination with 大成, Peng Xuefeng as Chairman of the Global Board.

Andrew said, "Joining with the tremendous talent, expertise and leadership of McKenna Long after combining with 大成, shows that Dentons' inventive, polycentric approach has created not only the largest law firm in the world, but the leading law firm in the world."

"This year Dentons has already advanced many important firsts and milestones that support our client-centric mission around the world,” noted Portnoy. “From our combination in China to achieving Level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment status in South Africa, and now a merger with McKenna Long, we are an even stronger firm than we were at the beginning of the year.”

"Our merger with Dentons is the result of a thoughtful, year-long strategic planning process culminating in a positive path for the future of McKenna Long and our clients," said Haidet. "The advantages to our clients and our people are clear, and we are excited to embrace in the US an unmatched global platform."

Wolfson noted, "Last year Dentons enjoyed the best financial performance of our 109-year history in the US. Combining with the exceptional lawyers and professionals of McKenna Long continues our strategic priority of bolstering that performance in practices such as Corporate, Litigation, Intellectual Property, Public Policy and Regulation and many other critical areas of client service."

The overwhelming percentage of economic interest of both firms approved the merger and will be combining together. By mutual decision, not all lawyers and professionals will join the combined firm. By agreement with those not joining, announcements will be made when individuals determine where they are going to continue their careers.

Effective date

The merger of Dentons US and McKenna Long is expected to be effective later in 2015.