Dentons and McKenna Long reportedly resume merger talks
Dentons and McKenna Long & Aldridge have reportedly resumed merger discussions after a vote on a proposed combination was called off in 2013.
Multiple anonymous sources told Bloomberg BNA’s Big Law Business and the Am Law Daily about the new talks. Neither firm commented on the report, though they offered general statements about being open to new opportunities.
The Am Law Daily said McKenna Long “is on the verge of finally voting on a tie-up with Dentons.” Big Law Business, however, said recent talks were preliminary.
Dentons is the world’s largest law firm after its January merger with Chinese law firm Dacheng.
McKenna Long chairman Jeff Haidet emailed a statement to Big Law Business. “We are regularly engaged in discussions with many firms about a wide variety of relationships” as part of the firm’s growth strategy, he said. “We cannot comment on any of these discussions, as doing so would be premature.”
Dentons also provided a statement to the publications. “With a historic combination announced and record revenue and profit growth in the U.S. and other regions still fresh, this is an exciting time for Dentons. The market is taking note—with 18 new partners joining the firm thus far this year—and we are focused on taking advantage of and continuing that positive momentum through 2015 and beyond,” according to the statement.
