Morning Briefing: Dentons in merger talks with 21 law firms

Law firm Dentons is seeking to plug gaps in its global footprint and strengthen its presence in other areas… International law firm launches alternative legal services business… Eversheds announces German merger… DAC Beachcroft returns to profit

Dentons in merger talks with 21 firms
It’s been reported that Dentons is seeking to plug gaps in its global footprint and strengthen its presence in other areas. Dentons and 21 law firms are in non-disclosure agreements according to The Lawyer; these include firms in Latin America, Europe, Japan and Australia. While not all of the talks are expected to end in mergers the firm is also expected to fill gaps in its coverage with lateral hires.
 
International law firm launches alternative legal services business
Herbert Smith Freehills has launched a new global alternative legal services business to offer cost efficient legal products and technology services for clients. The new global business will bring together the firm's Northern Ireland office with its Australian Information Logistics team and its London-based Disputes Data Management service to create a global team of approximately 240 lawyers, legal assistants and technologists - all dedicated to providing alternative legal services. Those services will include document review, regulatory claims assessment, due diligence, specialist funds work and asset management for real estate clients.
 
Eversheds announces German merger
A long term German member of Eversheds International has merged with Eversheds LLP to form a new firm trading as Eversheds Deutschland LLP. Eversheds’ merger partner Heisse Kursawe Eversheds is one of the biggest law firms in Munich, where it is headquarted, and among the 50 largest law firms in Germany.
 
DAC Beachcroft returns to profit
International law firm DAC Beachcroft has reported improved profits for the past year, marking a turnaround for the UK based firm. Total billings for 2014/15 were up AU$12 million to $400 million with operating profits climbing to $66 million. In the previous year profits had fallen by more than 13 per cent.
 
Global corporate finance team boosted at BLP
International law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has announced the appointments of Katherine Mulhern and Bobby Schrader as partners into its corporate finance practice group. Their appointment brings the total number of partners in the group to 27 across all offices.