A&O gives green light to merger

TheNetherlands operation of Benelux firm Loeff Claeys Verbeke - excluding theRotterdam

office.Loeffs' Rotterdam office is joining Dutch tax firm Loyens & Volkmaars.Loyens

voted on Thursday (22 July), to accept 26 partners and 65associates from Loeffs.This

enabled 35 partners at the Dutch part of Loeffs to announce itsmerger with A&O the

following morning.The Belgian arm of Loeffs snubbed A&O because it was demanding Loeffs

shedhalf its partners, as revealed in The Lawyer (5 July).Loeffs' Luxembourg office is

also on the point of merging with A&O, butwill remain a part of the Belgian rump until

it gets regulatory clearance.Brussels-based Louis Verbekeat, a partner at Loeffs, says

it was aunanimous decision to terminate merger talks.