The legal industry is witnessing a significant trend of transatlantic mergers, with UK-based firms actively seeking partnerships to bolster their presence in the U.S. market. The recent announcement of a merger between London-headquartered Ashurst and Seattle-based Perkins Coie exemplifies this movement. The combined entity, Ashurst Perkins Coie, will comprise 3,000 lawyers across 52 offices in 23 countries, generating approximately $2.7 billion in annual revenue. This positions the firm among the top 20 global law firms by revenue. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/law-firms-ashurst-perkins-coie-agree-merger-create-global-top-20-outfit-2025-11-17/?utm_source=openai))
The merger is characterized as a “combination of equals,” with leadership shared between Ashurst’s Paul Jenkins and Perkins Coie’s Bill Malley as global co-CEOs. The firm will focus on sectors such as technology, energy and infrastructure, and financial services. The integration is expected to be completed by late 2026, pending partner approvals. ([perkinscoie.com](https://perkinscoie.com/news/press-release/perkins-coie-and-ashurst-announce-intent-combine-top-20-global-law-firm-ashurst?utm_source=openai))
This merger is part of a broader trend of transatlantic consolidations in the legal sector. In 2023, Allen & Overy merged with Shearman & Sterling to form A&O Shearman, a firm with over 4,000 attorneys and $3.5 billion in revenue. Similarly, Herbert Smith Freehills combined with Kramer Levin, and Hogan Lovells was formed through the merger of Hogan & Hartson and Lovells in 2010. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shearman_%26_Sterling?utm_source=openai))
These mergers reflect a strategic effort by UK firms to establish a robust foothold in the U.S. market, driven by client demands for comprehensive, cross-border legal services. The Ashurst-Perkins Coie merger underscores this trend, aiming to provide integrated legal solutions across key global markets. ([globallegalpost.com](https://www.globallegalpost.com/news/ashurst-and-perkins-coie-announce-landmark-27bn-transatlantic-merger-129872276?utm_source=openai))