Dentons announces tie-up with Dutch firm Boekel
It’s March, so that means there must be another Dentons combination on the horizon.
On Thursday, the firm entered the Netherlands by announcing a planned union with Dutch law firm Boekel. In a press release, the firm stated that partners at both firms have approved the tie-up, which is expected to close in April. According to Dentons, the new Amsterdam office will give the firm 26 offices in 18 countries across Europe.
“Two years ago, we set out our vision for growth, with an ambitious goal to enter three new markets: Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands,” said Tomasz Dabrowski, CEO for Dentons Europe, in the press release. “We opened in Milan in October 2015, and in Luxembourg and Rome last year, and are now continuing the momentum with our combination in Amsterdam.”
Elliott Portnoy said in that same press release that the firm was excited about establishing a presence in the sixth-largest economy in the European Union. “Due to its business-friendly climate, it is an attractive location for corporate headquarters and therefore a key market for our multinational clients,” said Portnoy, Dentons’ global CEO.
So far in 2017, the firm has finalized combinations in Central America, while opening offices in Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
Before the deal with Dentons, Boekel consisted of approximately 70 lawyers—including 16 partners. Marien Glerum, CEO of Boekel, said in the press release that the combination would allow his firm to improve its corporate, M&A and banking practices. “Furthermore, we can directly benefit from Dentons’ innovations in legal technology,” Glerum said. “The combination makes us even more attractive as a firm for ambitious lawyers.”
According to Legal Business, as part of the deal, Boekel will shut down its satellite London office.
