Private client firm Withers has announced that it is to merge with a US firm.
Its chosen partner is New York specialist private client law firm Bergman Horowitz & Reynolds and the deal will go through on 1 January 2002.
In addition the merged firm will take on Joe Field, currently partner and head of international private client (Europe) at the U.S. law firm Bryan Cave who will be joining in the New Year. It is believed to be the first deal of its kind amongst private client focused firms.
Withers senior partner Diana Parker will become chairman of the firm which will be branded as Withers Bergman in the US and Withers elsewhere. The new firm also intends to convert to UK LLP status, one of the first few to do so and will have a combined turnover of £40m. In total it will have 70 partners and 360 staff.
