Womble Bond Dickinson launches - The transatlantic law firm close to home

Effective today, UK-based Bond Dickinson LLP and US-based Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP have combined to create Womble Bond Dickinson. Announced in June 2017, the combination builds on the successful strategic alliance announced by the two firms in 2016, creating a Global Top 100 firm by annual revenue ($410 million/£340million).

The new transatlantic platform offers clients access to:
• 24 offices in key commercial and financial locations across the US and UK, including a large office in Plymouth
• European market coverage through existing relationships in Germany and France
• More than 1,000 lawyers serving more than 250 publicly traded companies.

The combined firm will adopt a sector-focused strategy covering: Energy & Natural Resources, Financial Institutions, Healthcare, Insurance, Manufacturing, Real Estate, Retail & Consumer, Transport, Logistics & Infrastructure, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences, Technology and Private Wealth.

Womble Bond Dickinson will use its strength and experience in these sectors to create opportunities for its clients and build on the success achieved so far through the strategic alliance.

"This is a combination of two firms with a common culture and a shared commitment to client service.” said Womble Bond Dickinson Co-Chair, Jonathan Blair. “A growing percentage of our clients have operations on both sides of the Atlantic, and Womble Bond Dickinson will provide those clients with the consistent support they value highly.”

Womble Bond Dickinson Co-Chair, Betty Temple commented “This isn’t just the combination of a big US firm and a big UK firm. It’s the alignment of an office in Newcastle with one in Charlotte, an office in Baltimore with an office in Bristol and so on. This combination was borne out of a desire to better serve the business communities in which Womble Bond Dickinson is rooted.”

Craig Moore, Partner and Head of the office in Plymouth, added: "The combination increases our intellectual capital, allows us to innovate more readily and helps us to attract and retain the best talent in our local markets – this is good news not only for our clients who require a seamless transatlantic approach but those we work closely with on purely domestic business.

"We are proud of our heritage in the South West and are confident that with our success and depth of expertise, we can support our clients to thrive and prosper in a rapidly changing world. Womble Bond Dickinson gives us a unique footprint, offering expanded capability, greater commercial opportunities and direct access to the best legal minds on both sides of the Atlantic. Becoming Womble Bond Dickinson ensures our continued commitment to our regions whilst bringing greater market insight and international experience."

As well as being the largest law firm in Plymouth, Womble Bond Dickinson will also be the only transatlantic firm in the region. Ranking in the UK's top 20 law firms, it will provide an enviable transatlantic platform for further local, regional and international growth. Bringing richer prospects to the region, Womble Bond Dickinson will advise South West business on domestic and global matters across eleven sectors of expertise.

For more information, please go to http://www.womblebonddickinson.com.