Dentons, the world's largest law firm, announced today that it is to combine with leading Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens. The combination, which is expected to complete later in 2017 following approval by the partnerships of both firms, will offer clients the services of around 800 fee earners in the UK, including 200 partners, operating from offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Milton Keynes and Watford. Dentons will have around 8,700 lawyers and professionals.

"This combination will significantly enhance our scale and capabilities in the UK," said Dentons' Global Chief Executive Officer Elliott Portnoy. "Combining with strong, independent and well-established firms is central to Dentons' 'in and of the community' ethos, and with its rich history in the Scottish market Maclay Murray & Spens fits very much into this category. Following soon after our recent combinations with equally high-quality firms in Latin America and the Netherlands, this development accelerates Dentons' momentum as we continue our journey 'from largest to leading.'"

"Maclay Murray & Spens is a Scottish leader in some of our strongest practices and sectors including Financial Services, Energy, Transport & Infrastructure, and Real Estate," said Jeremy Cohen, Chief Executive Officer for Dentons' UK and Middle East region. "By combining we will also significantly increase our out-of-London capability. Working seamlessly with colleagues in London, our Milton Keynes and Watford offices already enable us to deliver enhanced value to many of our largest clients. This combination will upscale that ability by a very considerable margin."

"Joining forces with the world's largest law firm is tremendously exciting for us," said Kenneth Shand, Chief Executive Officer of Maclay Murray & Spens. "With offices across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific, Dentons will unquestionably be the only significant player in Scotland which is a genuinely global firm. We will have a unique ability to offer Scottish businesses with international ambitions access to the largest array of legal talent in the world, and international firms with an interest in Scotland, the resources of one of the world's most innovative and forward-thinking law firms."

"Our vision is to offer clients the 'law firm of the future' now," said Dentons' Global Chairman Joe Andrew. "By enhancing our ability to serve national and multi-national clients in the UK, the world's second largest legal market, and continuing to innovate in client service delivery, Dentons continues to set the pace in the global legal market."

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Upon completion of the combination, Maclay Murray & Spens will transition to the Dentons brand.

About Dentons

Dentons is the world's largest law firm, delivering quality and value to clients around the globe. Dentons is a leader on the Acritas Global Elite Brand Index, a BTI Client Service 30 Award winner and recognized by prominent business and legal publications for its innovations in client service, including founding Nextlaw Labs and the Nextlaw Global Referral Network. Dentons' polycentric approach and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client interests in the communities in which we live and work.

During 2016/17 Dentons consolidated its position as the largest law firm in the world by combining with firms in Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama and Singapore, and launching new offices in Munich, Oakland, Rome, Tbilisi, and Watford. The Firm has over 8,000 lawyers in over 60 countries.

Recent global panel appointments with a significant UK component include: Avis (reduced its panel from 700 firms to 7) and Nokia (reduced from 100+ to four), demonstrating how Dentons' enhanced international footprint enables the Firm to respond to the trend of global businesses appointing firms that can deliver both a global platform and a deeper level of relationship commitment. Dentons was also appointed to Standard Chartered's global panel.

Recent UK panel appointments include the UK Government, John Lewis, Network Rail and Royal Mail.

About Maclay Murray & Spens LLP

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP (MMS) is a UK-wide full-service commercial law firm with offices in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. One of the largest and longest-established Scottish legal firms, it was founded in Glasgow in 1871 and was the first commercial law practice to be formed in Scotland.

The firm is recognised in 30 Chambers categories, with 44 citations of leading individual lawyers.  It is also ranked Tier 1 or 2 by Chambers in: Banking & Finance; Competition; Corporate/M&A; Financial Services: Payments Law; Infrastructure/PPP; Rail; IP; Real Estate; Real Estate Litigation; and Tax.