Dentons plans to merge with one of China’s biggest law firms to create the largest global law firm by attorney headcount, in a bid to provide legal services to Chinese companies that are increasingly looking overseas for expansion.
Dentons said partners of Dentons and Dacheng had agreed to the deal, which would create a firm of 6,600 lawyers in 120 offices in more than 50 countries. The deal is awaiting Chinese regulatory approval. A formal announcement is expected next week.
The new firm is to be known as Dentons outside of China and Dacheng inside China. It will have a logo that begins with the two Chinese characters for Dacheng and ends with the name “Dentons”.