The global law firm Dentons, the Chinese firm 大成,the Singapore firm Rodyk & Davidson, and the Australian firm Gadens, are consideringa combination that would secure the position of the world’s largest law firm asthe dominant global leader in the Pacific Rim. Recognizing clients' needs forseamless, integrated and in and of the community representation in today'sglobal economy, the partners at Dentons, 大成, Gadens and Rodyk see the potential valuein a combination that will support better client service globally.

Following transformative combinations in China andthe United States, the proposed combination represents a key step in Dentons'pivot to the Pacific Rim as it establishes a greater presence in locations thatcontinue to grow in importance for international commerce. 

A number of trade groups, agreements and initiativesunderline the importance of the Pacific Rim. The recently announced Trans-PacificPartnership, China’s 21st Century Maritime Silk Road infrastructure program,the efforts to form the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by year’s end and theLatin American Pacific Alliance all point to the importance of the region as anengine of trade, finance and manufacturing.

"By any objective standard, Dentons hasaccomplished more for our clients in one year than any other firm in recenthistory, and the year is not over yet,” said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman,Dentons. “Our clients tell us that our commitment to bring them more experiencein key markets around the world — including through the combination with 大成,the merger with McKenna Long, the establishment of our SoHo New York team, theleading 50-plus lawyer team joining in Budapest, the opening of our Milanlocation, and now the combinations with Gadens in Australia and Rodyk inSingapore — is significant in helping support their business needs locally,nationally and globally."

"This combination is about capturing talent forthe benefit of our clients, and doing so in a way that complements thepolycentric approach and innovative spirit on which our firm was built,"said Elliott Portnoy, Global Chief Executive Officer, Dentons. "In thesefirms we recognize a similar ambition to bring clients more, to challenge theaccepted and to add value in everything we do." 

The proposed combination would bring Gadens and Rodykthe ability to follow their clients across the world, and enhances each firm'sability to service their clients from Asia Pacific.

The combination would see Gadens’ substantialstrengths in Finance, Real Estate and Energy, and Rodyk's significantLitigation and Arbitration, Banking and Finance, Corporate, IP and Technologyand Real Estate experience, combining with market-leading global practices atDentons and 大成's unrivaled position in the China market. It will also bringtogether firms with established reputations for service excellence andinnovation in legal services.

“We have been considering opportunities to supportGadens’ ability to meet in-bound client needs from Asia Pacific into Australia,as well as supporting our clients with global business interests and thecombination with Dentons provides us with an ideal opportunity,” said IanClarke, Gadens National Chairman.

“Rodyk’s own forward-looking approach, internationaloutlook, and the desire to provide a comprehensive suite of legal services toclients with cross-border business needs, has led it to this historicopportunity, to become part of the world’s biggest and leading, law firm,” saidPhilip Jeyaretnam SC, Managing Partner of Rodyk & Davidson LLP.

"China has continued to steadily expand itseconomic and trade relationships with both Australia and Singapore," saidJinquan Xiao, Senior Partner and Head of the Supervising Committee of 大成."Gadens and Rodyk offer the experience and quality our clients want inthese markets that will only continue to grow in importance in China andbeyond."

Dentons has a comprehensive offering with significantexperience that spans 24 sectors and 39 practices. If the combination isapproved, Dentons will have more than 80 offices in countries that touch thePacific Rim alone.

Australia

The combination with Gadens will enhance offerings inthe Banking and Finance, Property and Construction, and Energy and Resourcessectors, and delivers significant practice strengths in Corporate Advisory andTax, Insurance and Insolvency, Intellectual Property and Technology, DisputeResolution, Government, Employment and Safety, and Planning and Environment. 

Singapore

Rodyk brings the depth of Singapore's oldest lawpractice, and significant depth in the practices of Corporate, Finance,Intellectual Property and Technology, Litigation and Arbitration, and RealEstate.

If approved, once the combination with 大成 iseffective, the proposed firm's name will be Dentons in English and all otherlanguages, and 大成 in Chinese.

For further information and details regarding thecombination, visit www.dentonscombination.com. 

Location List and Global Map:  www.dentonscombination.com/about.html

About Dentons and 大成

Dentons is a global law firm driven to provide acompetitive edge in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. A top 20firm on the Acritas 2015 Global Elite Brand Index, Dentons is committed tochallenging the status quo in delivering consistent and uncompromising qualityin new and inventive ways. Dentons' clients now benefit from 3,000 lawyers andprofessionals in more than 80 locations spanning 50-plus countries. With alegacy of legal experience that dates back to 1742 and builds on the strengthsof our foundational firms—Salans, Fraser Milner Casgrain (FMC), SNR Denton andMcKenna Long & Aldridge—the Firm serves the local, regional and globalneeds of private and public clients. www.dentons.com

On January 27, 2015, the Firm announced its intent tocombine with the Chinese firm 大成. The combination will officially belaunched in 2015. Upon launch, the Firm will offer clients the support ofapproximately 6,600 lawyers operating from more than 125 locations and serving50+ countries.

About Gadens

Gadens is a leading Australian law firm with asignificant footprint in the Asia Pacific region. Gadens has more than 500lawyers and 550 professional staff across its offices in Sydney, Melbourne,Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Singapore and Port Moresby. 

Gadens defines its service offering around itsclients’ business needs, as opposed to areas of legal expertise. This mindsethas produced a firm that is commercially astute, relationship oriented andhighly innovative. For more information, please visit www.gadens.com. 

About Rodyk & Davidson

Trusted since 1861, Rodyk & Davidson LLP isSingapore’s first law firm and one of the largest full service law firms with astrong regional practice delivering international client service standards.Rodyk’s team of over 200 lawyers serves clients in five core practice groups:Corporate, Finance, Intellectual Property & Technology, Litigation &Arbitration and Real Estate.

Rodyk was transformed to the present day firm afterthe merger in 2002 with HelenYeo & Partners. Its proud record of acting inall the significant moments of Singapore’s history continues today. In the pastdecade, Rodyk has acted in the largest Chinese Initial Public Offering on theSingapore Stock Exchange, for Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, which raised S$1billion; for the main contractor in the government inquiry, on contractual andinsurance claims that followed the Mass Rapid Transit tunnel collapse at NicollHighway; for Singapore’s world-renowned research agency, A*Star, in theinternationally high profile public inquiry following the suicide of anAmerican researcher; in the largest en-bloc real estate transaction to-date,priced at S$1.39 billion; and in Singapore Airlines’ two major aviationdisasters.

Internationally, we enjoy exclusive memberships inthe World Law Group and the Pacific Rim Advisory Council, offering our clientsseamless and cost effective services in more than 100 cities spanning over 60countries. For more information, please visit www.rodyk.com.

Contacts:

Ashley Burke, Global Director of CommunicationsDentons, ashley.burke@dentons.com,+1 202 408 3255

KateRitchie, Communications Manager, Gadens, kate.ritchie@gadens.com, +61 2 90357214

 

Vivien Goh, Head, Communications, Rodyk &Davidson LLP, vivien.goh@rodyk.com,+65 6885 2886