Linklaters’ Dutch ally De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has restarted merger talks with the City firm with the aim of sealing a deal by next spring.
In a joint statement to Legal Week both firms said they were committed in principle to negotiating a full merger.
In April the top Dutch firm pulled out of merger talks with Linklaters amid concerns that its City ally would insist on De Brauw ditching parts of its domestically-focused practice. However, a report commissioned by De Brauw from US consultants McKinsey & Company after the breakdown of talks, recommended the Dutch firm commit to a full merger with Linklaters.
