Ashurst and Perkins Coie are merging—what this means for global law firm rankings

Ashurst LLP and Perkins Coie LLP have announced plans to merge and form a single, globally integrated law firm named Ashurst Perkins Coie. The proposed combination, unveiled on November 17, 2025, is expected to create one of the world’s twenty largest law firms by scale, footprint, and legal talent. It is designed to address the growing demand for seamless cross-border legal services across critical sectors such as technology, energy and infrastructure, and financial services.

The combined entity will span 52 offices in 23 countries, including flagship locations in Seattle, London, Sydney, and New York. With over 3,000 lawyers and a client base that includes some of the world’s most prominent technology and infrastructure companies, Ashurst Perkins Coie is positioning itself as a differentiated global adviser equipped to handle increasingly complex legal challenges. The firm aims to deliver integrated counsel for businesses operating in a fast-changing economic and regulatory environment where jurisdictional complexity, digital transformation, and sustainability issues are deeply interconnected.

The leadership of both firms stated that the merger is intended to unite complementary strengths, particularly Perkins Coie’s deep presence in the U.S. technology and IP sectors and Ashurst’s long-standing expertise in cross-border transactions and regulatory matters across Europe, Asia, and Australia. The two firms described the combination as a union of equals focused on expanding their joint ability to deliver globally coordinated legal guidance.

Why is Ashurst Perkins Coie being positioned as a next-generation global law firm?

The merger is driven by the increasing demand for law firms that can act as both strategic and legal advisers across jurisdictions and industry domains. Clients in sectors like artificial intelligence, data privacy, fintech, and energy transition are facing regulatory regimes that are evolving simultaneously in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. As a result, there is growing need for integrated legal teams that can provide coherent advice across borders while deeply understanding local law and policy.

Perkins Coie is widely regarded as a market leader in legal services for the technology sector, with extensive practices in privacy, intellectual property, fintech, and environmental law. The firm has been particularly active in representing startups, venture capital firms, and large technology platforms in the United States. It also has an established presence in life sciences and litigation.

Ashurst, on the other hand, is known for its strength in complex cross-border transactions and large-scale infrastructure projects, including financing and regulatory structuring. Its client base includes multinational financial institutions, energy firms, and sovereign infrastructure investors. The firm is also recognized for its legal innovation, particularly in the deployment of AI-driven tools for contract analytics and regulatory compliance.

The combination of these capabilities is expected to offer clients end-to-end legal support in navigating business growth, operational risks, and compliance obligations across major economic corridors.

What is the geographic and sectoral reach of the new Ashurst Perkins Coie firm?

Once finalized, Ashurst Perkins Coie will operate across 23 countries, with key hubs in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Beyond Seattle, London, Sydney, and New York, the firm will maintain presences in major legal and financial centers including Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris, Dubai, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Shenzhen.

This footprint is expected to support global client mandates in project finance, M&A, litigation, data privacy, and regulatory affairs. The new firm will also have a significant presence in key innovation hubs, allowing it to service technology companies not only from Silicon Valley and Seattle but also from Asia’s emerging tech clusters and Europe’s digital economy players.

Ashurst Perkins Coie will field over 3,000 lawyers, including more than 450 recognized by Chambers and Partners, placing it among the top four global law firms in terms of lawyer rankings. This signals a high concentration of senior legal talent across practice areas, jurisdictions, and industry sectors.

How will AI and digital transformation shape the firm’s legal delivery model?

Executives from both firms have underlined that the merger is not only about global reach and sectoral alignment but also about technological transformation. Both Ashurst and Perkins Coie have been investing in legal technology and AI platforms designed to enhance advisory delivery, improve efficiency, and manage legal risk at scale.

The new firm plans to leverage these investments to offer a more responsive, predictive, and client-centric model of legal service. This includes using AI tools to manage litigation risk, streamline due diligence in M&A, and support real-time compliance monitoring for clients in regulated sectors.

Clients are increasingly expecting law firms to integrate legal and technological advice, particularly in areas such as AI policy, cybersecurity, ESG reporting, and cross-border data transfers. Ashurst Perkins Coie aims to address these needs by building hybrid legal-technical teams capable of advising on law, implementation, and enterprise governance frameworks.

With both firms already supporting clients at the intersection of law and digital transformation, the merger is expected to accelerate their position as a go-to firm for technology-forward businesses operating across borders.

What does this merger mean for the U.S. legal market and global M&A in professional services?

The combination provides Ashurst with the U.S. expansion it has long sought, giving it a stronghold in North America through Perkins Coie’s presence. According to Ashurst Global CEO Paul Jenkins, finding the right U.S. partner was critical. He described Perkins Coie as forward-thinking, technology-savvy, and aligned in terms of long-term vision and sector focus.

The move also reflects a broader trend in the legal sector toward consolidation and cross-border integration. Global firms are increasingly seeking to differentiate themselves by offering seamless service delivery, deeper industry specialization, and legal risk management in emerging areas such as AI governance, green finance, and geopolitically influenced compliance regimes.

Ashurst Perkins Coie will likely compete with other transatlantic heavyweights including DLA Piper, Baker McKenzie, and Clifford Chance for large-scale cross-border mandates. However, its positioning around technology, infrastructure, and finance may give it a distinctive edge in serving clients operating at the confluence of regulation, innovation, and capital markets.

In terms of leadership, the firm will be co-led by Bill Malley and Paul Jenkins as global co-chief executive officers. Karen Davies and Brian Eiting will serve as co-chairs, while Mark Birnbaum will remain as chair of Perkins Coie’s executive committee until the end of 2025, ensuring a stable leadership transition as the merger moves toward implementation.

How long will the Ashurst Perkins Coie merger approval process take and what steps will shape the firm’s integration roadmap after the partner vote?

The merger remains subject to customary closing conditions, including a formal partner vote at both firms. If approved, Ashurst Perkins Coie will begin integrating operations, aligning systems, and coordinating client relationships across offices. Transition planning is expected to focus on maintaining client continuity, retaining top talent, and consolidating practice groups to reflect the merged firm’s sector-focused strategy.

While no specific timeline has been disclosed, partner-level discussions and regulatory preparations are already underway. The combined firm is expected to maintain existing client relationships while developing new service offerings around digital law, energy transition, and complex international finance.

Senior leadership from both firms emphasized that the merger builds on a legacy of innovation, growth, and client service. They described the creation of Ashurst Perkins Coie as a generational transformation that reflects the legal sector’s shift toward globally scalable, digitally enabled legal service delivery.

The combination signals continued momentum in the global legal services market, where firms are racing to deliver high-impact advisory models that are both geographically expansive and technologically future-ready.

Key takeaways: Ashurst Perkins Coie merger and global legal services expansion

• Ashurst LLP and Perkins Coie LLP have agreed to merge and form Ashurst Perkins Coie, creating a top-20 global law firm with more than 3,000 lawyers.

• The combined firm will operate across 52 offices in 23 countries, with key hubs in Seattle, London, Sydney, and New York, and additional presence in major legal and financial centers.

• The merger brings together deep sector expertise in technology, energy and infrastructure, and financial services, aligning with fast-growing global client demands.

• More than 450 lawyers from the combined entity are ranked by Chambers and Partners, making Ashurst Perkins Coie the fourth-largest firm by top-ranked legal talent globally.

• Both firms have made significant investments in AI, legal technology, and digital transformation tools, and plan to leverage this infrastructure to deliver smarter legal services.

• The leadership structure includes Bill Malley and Paul Jenkins as co-CEOs, with Karen Davies and Brian Eiting as co-chairs, ensuring leadership continuity through the merger.

• The move provides Ashurst with long-sought expansion into the U.S. legal market, while enabling Perkins Coie to scale its global reach and sector-focused offerings.

• The merger is still subject to a partner vote and regulatory approvals, after which integration will begin, focusing on practice alignment and client continuity.

• Market observers expect the new firm to compete directly with transatlantic and global firms in cross-border advisory, digital regulation, energy transition, and infrastructure finance.

• Ashurst Perkins Coie is being positioned as a next-generation law firm capable of blending legal advice, sector insight, and AI-powered legal delivery for multinational clients.