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Partners Approve Merger of Sonnenschein and Denton

The proposed transatlantic merger between Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal and Denton Wilde Sapte was approved by the firm’s partnerships Wednesday. The new firm will launch September 30 as SNR Denton and will be one of the world’s largest firms with more than 1,400 lawyers and professionals operating in 18 countries.

SNR Chairman Elliott Portnoy and Denton CEO Howard Morris will serve as co-CEO’s of the combined firm.

“Today’s votes will create a truly international firm that will focus on the needs of our clients and on the quality of our service,” Portnoy said in a press release. “The response of our clients since we shared our intent to combine the firms has been exceptional.”

The combined firm, which will have its largest offices in London and New York, will have complementary practices in eight sectors: Financial Institutions and Funds; Energy, Transport and Infrastructure; Insurance; Real Estate, Retail and Hotels; Technology, Media & Telecommunications; Health and Life Sciences; Manufacturing; and Government.

The press release notes that while the two firms will offer complementary practices, they have distinct geographic footprints that do not overlap and there are no planned office closures. The combination will be structured as a Swiss Verein similar to other professional services and law firm combinations, which are composed of member firms but each operates as a separate legal entity.

SNR was founded in Chicago in 1906, while Denton was established in London in the late 1700s.

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