UK boutique merges with America's McGuireWoods

London-based boutique Grundberg Mocatta Rakison (GMR) has merged with US firm McGuireWoods with the UK arm set to trade under the name McGuireWoods London.

The merger, which is set to complete on 1 May, will see GMR founder and senior partner Anders Grundberg (pictured) become managing partner of the London office.

Grundberg told <em>The Lawyer</em> it was a deal with mutual benefits: “We give them a springboard for growth in London and everything else they plan to do. The merger gives us the opportunity to develop more quickly. For us to grow our team we need capital.”

The US firm has appointed GMR partner Robert Rakison to the merged firm’s board and partner Walter White will head the emerging markets practice and maintain offices in both London and Washington DC.

Former McGuireWoods managing partner Bill Strickland will divide his time between the London and Brussels offices. Peter Covington, vice chairman of McGuireWoods, will relocate to London.

The office will focus on corporate, banking, litigation and private client and tax work.

GMR is a largely international firm with about a third of its work coming from the Nordic region.

McGuireWoods’ London launch follows its April 2008 merger with US banking firm Helms Mullis.