Words used to describe the merger between transatlantic firm Dentons and PRC behemoth Dacheng have ranged from ‘surprising’ and ‘brave’ to ‘shocking’. The deal, which was approved by partners earlier this month and formally signed last week following regulatory approval, has created both the largest law firm in the world by headcount and the first with a significant presence in its two biggest economies – the US and China.
Little has been revealed about how the Swiss verein merger will work in practice, although management have agreed to the name Dentons with a Chinese prefix, and to create a 19-member board consisting of representatives from all of the combined firm’s major markets. There is a commitment to full integration of practices, clients, people and systems.
