Bond Dickinson to target international growth post-merger
Bond Pearce and Dickinson Dees are aiming to produce an international strategy within the next 12-18 months following the firms’ decision to merge.
Jonathan Blair
Dickinson Dees managing partner Jonathan Blair told The Lawyer that now the merger, which is due to go live in May 2013, is a done deal, the priority was to address the combined firm’s lack of an international footprint. Blair said it was too early to comment on whether that meant opening new offices, or which jurisdictions the firm would target, but added that Bond Dickinson – as the merged firm will be called - will target international expansion that centres on its oil and gas, and high-net worth practices.
Partners at Bond Pearce and Dickinson Dees voted through the merger, which will create a £95m firm with offices across the UK, last week (7 December 2012) after five or six months of talks.
Blair stressed that the decision to merge was based around the firm’s common goals: Dickinson Dees’ 2020 Vision (the name of its management strategy) and Bond Pearce’s Green Arrow plan both focused on expanding in London. Blair said that it was too early to say whether, and to what scale, the firm would cut back office staff following the merger.
“Obviously being across eight locations we’ll need a substantial back office, but it’s too early to say anything for definite,” said Blair.
The firms have already agreed to move into new offices in London, however. The firms’ current London leases expire in March 2013, when the combined firm will look for space of between 20,000 and 25,000 sq ft in central London. Based on those figures, Bond Dickinson will have space for around 100 lawyers in the office, an increase on the 60-70 that it now has as a combined firm.
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Readers' comments (12)
Anonymous | 10-Dec-2012 8:18 am
Pipe dream. Maybe they should sort out the problems which have seen the firm tumble down the rankings, before thinking about ways to open offices abroad.
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Anonymous | 10-Dec-2012 8:30 am
That sounds like cuts to me.
Maybe their "international strategy" will mirror how Dixon Dees ran its London office. Lots of hype, but the reality was that for years it was a solitary meeting room with a coffee machine. That's my experience of Dixon Dees, no substance behind the boasts.
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Anonymous | 10-Dec-2012 8:57 am
To be fair an international presence is just what Bond Dickinson needs to put clear water between themselves and Quality Solicitors.
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Anonymous | 10-Dec-2012 9:43 am
As with other Dickie Dees announcements, this is best taken with more than a pinch of salt.
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Anonymous | 10-Dec-2012 10:38 am
No international footprint?
Mr Blair, have you forgotten about the Dickinson Dees Brussels office?
Or... will that also turn out to be meeting rooms? Are any of the competition team based there? To avoid a lack of credibility, I think we should be told.
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Anonymous | 10-Dec-2012 3:45 pm
Why do they need to come out with all of this hype and propoganda? They should learn from past mistakes and be realistic about where they and what they've acheived.
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Anonymous | 10-Dec-2012 5:17 pm
Hill Dickinson Bond Dickensian. Similar names. Can only be a matter of time before the two giants of mediocrity merge.
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Anonymous | 10-Dec-2012 10:41 pm
I worked as a solicitor at DD for some years. I enjoyed my time there - the work and the people. Based on my experience, the bile aimed at the firm is unjustified. The harsh comments posted are a sad reflection on the writers. I wish BD all the best.
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Anonymous | 10-Dec-2012 11:25 pm
18 months? Really?
How can it take 18 months to copy what your rivals did in 2003?
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Anonymous | 13-Dec-2012 10:57 am
Anon 10:41pm,
I also worked as a solicitor at DD. I can understand why Dickinson Dees is the subject of ridicule amongst lawyers.
The problem lies with the marketing team. They don't seem to understand the firm's mid-market position, so make silly boastful statements that undermine the good work done by 90% of the firm.
For example, the Newcastle Journal reported this merger with the line:
"THE North East's biggest law firm is to merge with a South West company".
For those who don't know Dickinson Dees is the 3rd largest law firm with offices in the North East. Also Bond Pearce is the bigger firm, so why downplay their role?
I agree that new firm Bond Dickinson deserve to start with a clean slate. I think the merger will be a success, but Bond Pearce's marketing team should lead on the branding, PR etc.
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