Hogan and Lovells Set Priorities Prior to Merger

Additional details on the pending merger of Lovells and Hogan & Hartson, which launches May 1 as Hogan Lovells, have come to light. LegalWeek is reporting the firms have come up with “investment priorities” that includes expanding the firm’s corporate practices in both London and New York.

The story reveals Hogan’s New York large corporate practice is in line for further expansion in order to broaden its transactional reach to Washington D.C.  Firm officials are also banking that Lovells corporate practice in London, which LegalWeek reports as being undersized, will be able to lure more high quality lawyers through the merger. Andrew Skipper, who heads the practice, said the firm is already in discussions with several potential laterals.

Other priorities for the merged firm are to build a bank-led finance practice in the U.S. , given Hogan’s finance practice is currently focused on corporate clients, and  increasing the firm’s position in the market with U.S. underwriters in capital markets, deals finance, and structured products, LegalWeek reports.

Additionally, the firm plans to immediately exhibit to its existing client base the positives have having a firm the size of Hogan Lovells.