Prognosis for U.S. Firms in Europe

Prognosis for U.S. Firms in Europe

As predicted last year, the only movement of U.S. law firms into London in 2005 came from U.S. national firms -- two who did so, effective January 1, by merger, (Kirkpatrick & Lockhart/Nicholson Graham & Jones, and Piper Rudnick Gray Cary/DLA) and Katten Muchin Rosenman, by affiliation (Katten Muchin Rosenman Cornish LLP).  At least two other national firms (Heller Ehrman and Nixon Peabody) are reported to be looking actively.  Heller was even reported by the legal press to have opened an office in London staffed by expatriates, but that has not yet occurred.  It is entirely predictable that other national U.S. firms will shift their attention to London, but only after they complete their domestic priorities (Holland & Knight, currently reconsolidating acquisitions made during the 1990s; Greenberg Traurig still emabarked on its U.S. expansion).

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