Ever wondered about the mechanics of a law firm merger? Wonder no more.

The first phase involves finding a suitable merger partner. For so long, this simply involved approaching other managing partners you knew from the golf course. Gladly firms are now more scientific. Firms should already have articulated their objectives and identified the vital features of a potential partner based on what they hope to obtain through merger (e.g. expertise in the life sciences sector, a presence in Dublin or a larger disputes team).