Mayer Brown to merge with Johnson Stokes & Masters

US firm Mayer Brown and Hong Kong’s Johnson Stokes & Masters are merging to create the tenth largest law firm in the world with a combined revenue of $1.2bn.

The new firm, named Mayer Brown JSM in Asia, is to house close to 2,000 lawyers and will come into effect on 28 January next year.

“This is a truly transformational event that makes Mayer Brown unique among global law firms,” said Mayer Brown chairman James Holzhauer.

“Our combination is an ideal strategic fit and offers enhanced global service to our multinational clients.”

The combined firm will house more than 1,000 lawyers in the US with 500 in Europe and 300 based in Asia. The firm will also benefit form seven offices in Asia, six in Europe and eight in the Americas, including a recently opened office in Brazil.

Hong-Kong based JSM has full-service offices in Hong Kong, mainland China (Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai), Thailand (Bangkok) and Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with more than 260 lawyers.