DLA-Piper partners say yes to merger

The $1.4bn (£730m) DLA-Piper Rudnick tie-up was close to winning unanimous support on both sides of the Atlantic as the firms’ partners voted through the merger.

As The Lawyer went to press, more than 76 DLA equity partners had already signed up in favour of the merger ahead of Saturday’s (4 December) formal vote.

The merger requires the support of 85 per cent of the equity partners – or 115 of them – to proceed. At the same time, Piper Rudnick’s management reported that around 80 per cent of its votes had already been counted – all in favour of the merger.

DLA managing partner Nigel Knowles said not a single no vote had been received. As with all DLA partner elections, the vote was conducted by way of an open ballot.

The merger will catapult DLA into the global top 10, with 2,700 lawyers and a turnover expected to reach $1.4bn next year. Knowles will serve as joint chief executive officer alongside Piper Rudnick’s co-chairs Frank Burch and Lee Miller.

Following the October merger between Piper Rudnick and California technology experts Gray Cary, the new firm will operate as DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary.