In 2017, the U.S.-based legal firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice formed a transatlantic merger with U.K.-based Bond Dickinson. This newly formed firm, Womble Bond Dickinson, an Am Law 100 firm, has more than a thousand lawyers under its helm. The firm, since its merger, was led by Betty Temple and witnessed noteworthy increases in its gross revenue and revenue per lawyer. Additionally, the firm opened six new offices, further establishing its strong presence in the U.S.
However, this week, marked the election of a new U.S. chair, the first in seven years. The global finance partner, Merrick Benn, will officially assume his new position on January 1. Benn, who joined Womble Carlyle in 2009, is not new to the company’s management structure. Following the merger, Benn held multiple leadership positions, the most recent ones being U.S. vice chair and leader of the firm’s capital markets practice group.
As part of Benn’s duties as the new U.S. chair, as reported by Bloomberg Law, he will oversee the firm’s domestic strategy, operations, profitability and structural organization. Co-chairing the firm’s global board with the UK managing partner, Paul Stewart, Benn aims to focus on strategic growth and adding depth in areas where the firm can uniquely serve its most important clients – financial services, IP, complex litigation and technology.
Expressing his honour to be elected as the U.S. chair, Benn is eager for this new chapter for the firm and is committed to continue the path that his predecessor, Betty Temple, laid out initially. Congratulations, Merrick Benn.