A Chicago location has long been a priority for lawyers at Everlands Sutherlands, even before the combination that created their firm in 2017.

Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, the U.S. legacy firm, had been looking for a Chicago office for years because it had so many clients in the region. The Eversheds tie-up accelerated the impetus to be there since the firm’s U.K. lawyers serve many international clients investing in Midwestern deals, said Eversheds Sutherland’s co-CEO Mark Wasserman.