Womble Carlyle announces strategic alliance with UK firm
A strategic alliance announced Wednesday by Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice and the United Kingdom-based Bond Dickinson is intended to help each of the well-known firms expand its footprint in the other’s home country.
The two plan to refer business to each other, collaborate in pitching business to clients, provide resources to clients who visit the home country of the partner firm and even work in each other’s offices, the Wall Street Journal Law Blog reports. The agreement runs for five years and can be renewed thereafter.
A law firm news release provides more details and says that the two firms expect the alliance to lead to “significant sustainable growth” for both firms, as well as enhancing the experience of clients doing business in the partner firm’s country.
Elizabeth “Betty” Temple took the helm in January as chair and CEO of the 550-attorney Womble Carlyle.
“A merger’s not necessary for our firms,” she told the newspaper. “Our value proposition is delivery of Wall Street service at Main Street value. Because our cultures are both so open and transparent, we can do it with an alliance.”
Jonathan Blair serves as managing partner of Bond Dickinson, which is roughly the same size. “The U.S. is the world’s largest economy. If you’re a professional services business, then you have to consider the U.S.,” he said,
The Chronicle also has a story.
