Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin have unveiled plans to merge into a unified global legal firm, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. With an integrated profit pool from the outset, the firm will bring together approximately 2,700 lawyers, including around 640 partners across 25 international offices. The merger will strengthen their combined presence in key markets, with Herbert Smith Freehills contributing established operations across Asia, Australia, EMEA, and the UK, and Kramer Levin adding its foothold in New York, Silicon Valley, Washington D.C., and Paris. The joint firm will be positioned among the top 20 law firms globally in terms of headcount and revenue.
Justin D’Agostino, Global CEO of Herbert Smith Freehills, highlighted, "This is an excellent long-term, strategic move for our firms, our clients and our people—a bold opportunity to build an exciting international firm together, based on our strong cultures of collaboration, superb clients and people, and our existing areas of strength. This is just the beginning." This partnership aims to broaden client services across sectors such as energy, finance, infrastructure, mining, and technology. It will also enhance capabilities in private capital, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, real estate, and intellectual property. With over $2 billion in combined revenues, the firm intends to provide a cohesive platform for growth, particularly in the United States. The merger remains subject to standard approvals, including a partner vote.
