Chinese, American Firms to Merge, Hiring Newt Gingrich and Howard Dean

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FirstLook.org reports that one of the largest law firms in the People’s Republic of China, Dacheng, will merge with two major law firms in the United States, McKenna Long & Aldridge and Dentons . Dacheng will also close its Singapore office, according to the American Lawyer. The merger will result in the largest law firm in the world.

Dentons and Dacheng first came to a deal in January.

  

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Additionally, the merger will provide Dacheng’s clients, such as various companies and state-owned firms, access to legal advice from policy professionals and lawyers in the United States. For American clients, they will have the benefit of access to legal guidance from Chinese attorneys.

Dentons and McKenna Long participate in lobbying as well, which will provide Dacheng’s clients insight into the American system.

Through Dentons, the firm will employ Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House; Joe Andrew, former Democratic National Committee Chair; and former Rep. Van Hilleary (R-TN). McKenna employs Howard Dean, the former Democratic National Committee Chair; Anthony Williams, the former mayor of Washington, D.C., former Senator Gary Hart (D-CO); and former representative Bill Owens (D-NY). Although these individuals do not all have law degrees, many will work in the “government affairs” departments in the firms, which means they will primarily work in lobbying.

McKenna agreed to merge with Dentons last month.

According to McKenna Long, its “merged government affairs team” will include, in addition to Dean, four former state attorneys general, four former U.S. congressmen, and other former government officials.

Joe Andrew commented, “The personal relationships they have with the C.E.O.s of private companies and big, state-owned enterprises is obviously something that creates a tremendous opportunity for us, with all that work that is now coming out into the West.”

It was announced in January that the firms would create the largest firm in the world.

Gingrich remarked, “The Firm is committed to doing something unique, challenging the traditional and innovating in the legal profession with an emphasis on knowing and understanding communities around the world for the benefit of clients.” Gingrich will join the firm June 1, the Wall Street Journal noted.

The firm will be known as Dacheng Dentons.

Source: First Look

Photo credit: business.financialpost.com