Lovells has agreed to merge with Paris-based firm Simeon et Associes in a bid to give its French practice a much-needed boost
Both firms held a final partnership vote on Saturday after extensive talks held over the last two months (Legal Week 21.6.01).
The merger, which will become official on 1 November, has provided Lovells with an extra 12 French-qualified partners.
Lovells, which will now have 25 partners based in Paris and eight partners based in Brussels, has been eager to grab a larger slice of continental Europe’s second biggest legal market.
The merger also signals Lovells’ determination to maintain the pace of its European expansion.
Robert Follie, the managing partner of Lovells’ Paris practice, will become managing partner of the merged practice.The Brussels practice will be led by Lovells’ Brussels managing partner Nick Bromfield.
“By merging with Simeon we will double the size of our corporate practice, while reinforcing other key areas such as competition, employment and tax,” Follie said.
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