The merger between Withers and Bergman Horowitz & Reynolds PC (BHR) was announced in December 2001 and became effective from 1 January, 2002. Having worked closely together for some years, the logical step was to combine both practices and take this specialisation to a new level by creating the first transatlantic firm dedicated to successful individuals, their families, businesses and advisers.
The preliminary negotiations highlighted the fact that our traditional UK partnership structure would not be suitable for the new entity. Law firms in the US have, for many years, been able to take advantage of entities such as limited liability partnerships or professional corporations, BHR being an example of the latter. A law firm in the highly litigious US is unlikely to want to discard its limited liability status and a merger structure that enables a UK firm in practice to enjoy a similar status is advisable.
