Paris, France — In a significant move to expand its global footprint, Morgan Lewis & Bockius announced on Friday the acquisition of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel’s Paris office, including a robust team of 54 lawyers. This development precedes the merger of Kramer Levin, based in Manhattan, with Herbert Smith Freehills, set to finalize in May.
Kramer Levin’s Paris office, previously its sole international location, was notably excluded from its impending transatlantic union with Herbert Smith Freehills. This strategic acquisition by Morgan Lewis not only bolsters its presence in Europe but also significantly enhances its legal capabilities across key market sectors.
Among the notable additions to the Morgan Lewis team are corporate partner Dana Anagnostou and private equity partner Sébastien Pontillo. They are scheduled to join the Paris office on January 1, bringing the total headcount to 23 partners and 70 lawyers. This move is poised to strengthen Morgan Lewis’ capabilities and client services in not just the French but European markets as well.
Steven Wall, the managing partner at Morgan Lewis, emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion. He noted that integrating this talented team will allow the firm to more effectively harness opportunities in burgeoning sectors such as alternative finance, cryptocurrency, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.
Dana Anagnostou will take on a leadership role, co-heading the Paris office alongside existing Morgan Lewis partner, Sabine Smith-Vidal. Their combined expertise is expected to drive further growth and client engagement within the region.
Kramer Levin currently operates out of three locations in the United States—New York, Silicon Valley, and Washington D.C. The firm’s consolidation with Herbert Smith Freehills is anticipated to create a major new player in the legal market, with projected gross revenues surpassing $2 billion annually. The merged entity will be known as Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in the U.S., operating under the abbreviated name HSF Kramer.
This move comes shortly after Kramer Levin experienced the departure of prominent white-collar lawyer Barry Berke and his team, who transitioned to Gibson Dunn. This shuffle in personnel underscores a dynamic period of realignment within some of New York’s most prominent legal firms.
Indeed, Morgan Lewis’s acquisition of the Paris office from Kramer Levin underscores a growing trend of strategic global expansions by U.S.-based law firms, aiming to enhance their competitive edge by increasing their international reach and broadening their sectoral expertise. This trend reflects the increasingly global nature of business disputes and transactions, necessitating a law firm presence in key financial centers around the world.
As legal landscapes continue to evolve, such strategic mergers and acquisitions are set to play pivotal roles in shaping the capabilities and market positions of global law firms.
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