Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin agree $2bn merger

Thanks to the tie-up, the new firm, to operate as Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer globally and HSF Kramer in the US, becomes one of the top 20 law firms in the world by revenue and by headcount. The combined firm will have over 2,700 lawyers, including around 640 partners, across 25 offices.

This is the second blockbuster transatlantic merger in little over a year, following the decision by Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling to go into business together in October 2023.

Describing the deal as “transformational” Rebecca Maslen-Stannage, chair of Herbert Smith Freehills, remarked, “We have long been committed to expanding our offering in the US and Kramer Levin is the perfect fit. [This merger] delivers immediate growth for both firms from day one.”

Howard T. Spilko, co-managing partner of Kramer Levin, described the deal as a “one-of-a-kind opportunity” that would help the US firm achieve its vision and potential for strategic growth. “The combination provides us with a significant competitive advantage by bolstering our destination practices with a deeper bench, broader geographic reach and sector expertise, while providing the opportunity to collaborate to achieve great outcomes for clients internationally,” added Spilko.

In addition to its New York office, Kramer Levin is present in Silicon Valley, Washington DC and Paris, France. Herbert Smith Freehills, which has had its own office in Paris since 1964, last month appointed Martin Kavanagh to succeed Peter Leon as chair of its global Africa business. The merger comes a dozen years after London-based Herbert Smith joined forces with Australian firm Freehills.