The firm will have approximately 1,275 lawyers in 37 offices and 17 countries, which would place it among the top 25 legal practices in the world based on number of lawyers. Squire Sanders Chairman James J. Maiwurm will be global chief executive officer and chair. Hammonds Managing Partner Peter Crossley will be managing partner for Europe. The combined firm will be structured as a Swiss Verein and governed by a 13-person global board elected by the partners.
In explaining the merger, Maiwurm noted “an accelerating business climate” and said its clients “consider cost-effective global counsel the norm, not the exception. The combination of our firms is designed for the times and positioned for the future.”
A report by AM Law Daily said the merged firm will keep the Squire, Sanders & Dempsey name, but will be known as Squire Sanders Hammonds in the parts of the world where Hammonds has a presence.