SECTOR FOCUS: LEGAL & FINANCE Transatlantic partnership approved


The partners of UK-based Bond Dickinson and US-based Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice have voted to combine as equal members in a new entity under the name Womble Bond Dickinson. The agreement represents a


union of like minds that will champion the domestic and international ambitions of clients with a continued emphasis on local, regional and national legal services enhanced by extensive international capabilities. Effective from October 2017,


Womble Bond Dickinson will have more than 420 partners and 1,000 lawyers across eight offices in the UK and 15 offices in the US. The combination will put Womble Bond Dickinson in the UK’s top 20 and in the top 80 in the US listings, with combined revenues in excess of US$410m or £340m. The new entity will be a


company limited by guarantee of which Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP will be the members with each firm continuing to operate as a separate and autonomous partnership with its own independent management. Four members of each firm will be


‘This new


Jonathan Blair, Managing Partner of Bond Dickinson, and Betty Temple, Chair and CEO of Womble Carlyle


appointed to the board, which will be co-chaired by Betty Temple, Chair and CEO of Womble Carlyle, and Jonathan Blair, Managing Partner of Bond Dickinson. Jonathan Blair said: “We are delighted by this


transformational development, which would not have been possible without the support of our


platform will


clients, the inherent cultural alignment between our firms and the enthusiasm of our people in driving the success of our exclusive Strategic Alliance with Womble Carlyle. “The agreement creating


Womble Bond Dickinson marks the our clients’


better serve the needs of


achievement and culmination of our vision to be a Top 20 law firm by 2020. This combined firm enables us to provide an enviable transatlantic platform for further expansion and growth in the UK, where London remains a priority for investment, along with Edinburgh and other regional areas important to US and UK clients. Most importantly, we believe this new platform will better serve the needs of all our clients and provide the environment to retain and nurture the best talent in the business." Future investment is anticipated to bolster Womble Bond Dickinson's practices in both countries, with additional international needs of clients to be met


through established alliances and referral networks in target


jurisdictions worldwide. Bond Dickinson was formed


through the 2013 merger between Bristol-headquartered Bond Pearce and Newcastle-based Dickinson Dees.


28 Chamber Profile July/August 2017


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