Ashurst and Perkins Coie to Form $2.8B Global Legal Powerhouse

NEW YORK, NY – April 13, 2026 – The global legal landscape is set for a significant realignment as US-based Perkins Coie and UK-headquartered Ashurst announced that their respective partnerships have overwhelmingly approved a full combination. The new entity, to be named Ashurst Perkins Coie, will create a global legal behemoth with combined revenues of approximately US$2.8 billion, positioning it among the world's top 20 largest law firms.

The merger, expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, will bring together around 3,000 lawyers across more than 50 offices worldwide. The new firm will boast flagship hubs in key economic centers, including Seattle, London, Sydney, and New York, reflecting a strategic fusion of Perkins Coie’s deep US roots and Ashurst's extensive network across Europe, Australia, and Asia.

Leadership from both firms hailed the vote as a confirmation of a shared vision. "Our partnership's approval reflects a shared belief that combining to form Ashurst Perkins Coie will create a truly differentiated global legal platform—one with the scale, sector depth, and technological leadership to meet our clients' increasingly complex, cross-border needs," said Bill Malley, Firmwide Managing Partner of Perkins Coie.

Echoing this sentiment, Paul Jenkins, Global CEO of Ashurst, stated, "This vote confirms the strong alignment between our firms and our joint ambition for the future. Through our extensive engagement with partners, our people, and clients since announcing our intention to combine, it has become clear that our two firms are a natural fit."

Forging a Global Contender

The creation of Ashurst Perkins Coie is more than an expansion; it is a calculated move to construct a firm capable of competing at the highest echelon of the legal market. With a projected revenue of $2.8 billion, the combined firm will challenge the dominance of established Magic Circle and Wall Street elites. This scale addresses a long-standing strategic goal for Ashurst: to gain a significant and credible foothold in the lucrative US market. Perkins Coie, an Am Law 50 firm with 2023 revenues of $1.21 billion, provides that entry point with its strong national presence and deep client relationships.

Conversely, the merger provides Perkins Coie with immediate and substantial access to markets where Ashurst holds a commanding presence. Ashurst, a member of the UK's prestigious "Silver Circle" of law firms, reported revenues of £961 million for its 2024 fiscal year, driven by its powerhouse practices across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in Australia following its 2012 merger with Blake Dawson.

This complementary geographic footprint is designed to offer clients seamless, integrated service on complex cross-border transactions and disputes, a growing demand from multinational corporations navigating an intricate global economy.

A Marriage of Tech Prowess and Sector Dominance

Beyond sheer scale, the merger's strategic logic is rooted in the combination of highly complementary practice strengths. The new firm is explicitly targeting leadership in the technology, energy and infrastructure, and financial services sectors—industries that leaders from both firms identified as being "at the center of global economic transformation."

Perkins Coie brings to the table one of the world's most respected technology practices. For decades, it has represented a who's who of tech giants, including Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Google. Its expertise is not just historical; the firm's forward-looking focus is evidenced by its nationwide AI practice, which achieved a top-tier Band 1 ranking from Chambers USA in 2025. This deep entrenchment in the tech ecosystem, from venture capital and startups to intellectual property litigation, provides a powerful engine for the combined firm.

This tech prowess is matched by Ashurst's formidable reputation in energy, resources, and infrastructure. The firm is a global leader in project finance and advises on some of the world's largest oil and gas, renewables, and transport projects, with key clients including institutional investors like BlackRock and Brookfield. The combination creates a legal juggernaut for clients in these capital-intensive sectors, from securing financing for a new solar farm in Europe to navigating the regulatory hurdles of a US infrastructure project.

Leading with Innovation and AI

The new firm is also staking its claim as a leader in legal innovation. The press release highlights a commitment to leveraging a "history of innovation, including early adoption of AI," a claim well-supported by both firms' recent initiatives. Perkins Coie's formalized AI practice is a clear differentiator, offering clients specialized counsel on the very technology transforming their businesses.

Meanwhile, Ashurst has invested heavily in its "NewLaw" division, Ashurst Advance, which focuses on delivering legal services more efficiently through technology and alternative staffing models. Furthermore, in a significant move, Ashurst recently announced the global rollout of the generative AI platform Harvey to all its lawyers, aiming to integrate the technology into daily work like due diligence, contract analysis, and legal research. The fusion of Perkins Coie's advisory expertise in AI with Ashurst's operational adoption of AI tools promises to create a firm that not only advises on technology but is fundamentally shaped by it.

The Integration Gauntlet Ahead

While the strategic vision is compelling, the path to a fully integrated Ashurst Perkins Coie is fraught with the challenges inherent in any mega-merger. The statement of a "shared collaborative culture" will be put to the test as the firms begin the complex work of weaving together two distinct organizations.

Integrating the culture of a Seattle-founded firm, consistently listed on Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For," with a London-headquartered institution founded in 1822 presents a significant management challenge. The most critical and often contentious hurdle will be aligning partner compensation systems, a process that, if mishandled, could lead to partner departures and undermine the merger's rationale.

Operationally, the task is monumental. Merging disparate IT platforms, cybersecurity protocols, and administrative functions across more than 50 offices is a complex and costly endeavor. Furthermore, the firm must meticulously navigate the web of potential client conflicts that arise from combining two large, successful practices, a process that requires delicate communication to retain key client relationships.

Firm leaders appear confident they can navigate these complexities. "Our clients operate in an increasingly complex environment and look to their legal advisers to navigate it with them," said Karen Davies, Global Chair of Ashurst. Mark Birnbaum, Chair of Perkins Coie's Executive Committee, added that the partners' support "reflects a shared confidence in what can be achieved together and in the strength of the combined platform to drive sustained growth and performance."

As the legal world watches, the success of Ashurst Perkins Coie will ultimately depend on its ability to transform its immense potential on paper into a seamlessly integrated, client-focused global powerhouse. The combination remains subject to customary closing conditions, with all eyes on the third quarter of 2026 for the official launch of this new legal titan.