Maclay Murray & Spens to merge with global firm Dentons

Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens has announced plans to merge with Dentons, the world’s largest law firm by headcount.

The combination, expected to complete later in 2017 following approval by the partnerships of both firms, will offer clients the services of around 800 fee earners in the UK, including 200 partners, operating from offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Milton Keynes and Watford.

Kenneth Shand, chief executive officer of Maclay Murray & Spens, said: “Joining forces with the world’s largest law firm is tremendously exciting for us. With offices across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific, Dentons will unquestionably be the only significant player in Scotland which is a genuinely global firm.

“We will have a unique ability to offer Scottish businesses with international ambitions access to the largest array of legal talent in the world, and international firms with an interest in Scotland, the resources of one of the world’s most innovative and forward-thinking law firms.”

Elliott Portnoy, Dentons’ global chief executive officer, said: “This combination will significantly enhance our scale and capabilities in the UK. Combining with strong, independent and well-established firms is central to Dentons’ ‘in and of the community’ ethos, and with its rich history in the Scottish market Maclay Murray & Spens fits very much into this category.

“Following soon after our recent combinations with equally high-quality firms in Latin America and the Netherlands, this development accelerates Dentons’ momentum as we continue our journey ‘from largest to leading’.”

Jeremy Cohen, chief executive officer for Dentons’ UK and Middle East region, said: “Maclay Murray & Spens is a Scottish leader in some of our strongest practices and sectors including Financial Services, Energy, Transport & Infrastructure, and Real Estate.

“By combining we will also significantly increase our out-of-London capability. Working seamlessly with colleagues in London, our Milton Keynes and Watford offices already enable us to deliver enhanced value to many of our largest clients. This combination will upscale that ability by a very considerable margin.”