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Dentons prepares to seal transatlantic merger with Sonnenschein

Having trained with DWS, I have a great deal of respect for the place. I just can't see what the merger really has to offer. There appears to be very little synergy between the practice groups and their metrics are very different. SNR is a top drawer insurance litigator, but DWS (when I was a trainee) had only one partner practicing this discipline in London. Both firms market a focus on IPMT, but as most people at DWS would tell you, IPMT contributes a very small % of turnover. DWS strengths in London are mid-market finance (save for the excellent Wynne, Felberbaum, Andrews, Paine and Rice), real estate and a clutch of energy/project lawyers in London, Paris and Dubai. Frankly I can't see how SNR's St Louis and Walnut Creek offices really advance these practice areas. When Dentons and Wilde Sapte merged, a lot of top partners left because the costs were going to cripple them. I hope the same doesn't happen again.

27-May-2010

8:33 am