Law360 Examines How Transatlantic Mergers Are Reshaping the UK Legal Landscape

Law360 has published an in-depth analysis by Marialuisa Taddia exploring how major transatlantic mergers - most recently the proposed combination of Ashurst and Perkins Coie - are accelerating structural change across the UK legal market. The article highlights a central theme: scale, profitability and global competitiveness increasingly depend on meaningful access to the US market, prompting UK firms to revisit their growth strategies.

The piece charts the rise of cross-border tie-ups since 2023 and examines how shifting market conditions, geopolitics, and capital flows have pushed firms to look westward. It also contrasts merger-driven expansion with the aggressive lateral hiring strategies that have enabled elite US firms to grow top-tier London practices without combining.

Macrae Partner Siobhán Lewington shares her perspective on the forces behind this momentum, noting that many firms now recognize that organic growth alone is too slow: “That’s why firms are more open to looking at these alternative opportunities to achieve growth,” she says. She also highlights the mounting pressure on mid-market firms and anticipates further consolidation as they seek scale, resilience, and access to higher-growth markets.

Read the full article from Marialuisa Taddia for Law360 here.

Please note: A subscription may be required to access the full article.

For more insights, connect directly with Siobhán Lewington or reach out to our team at Macrae here.