A planned merger between international firm Stephenson Harwood and European firm Taylor Wessing will not go ahead, both parties revealed today. It emerged last month that Taylor Wessing - comprising practices which did not join the parent firm's transition to Winston & Strawn earlier this year - were in talks with London-based Stephenson about creating a full integrated firm.
Partners had been set to vote by the end of this year ahead of a potential merger in May 2027.
However in a joint statement today, the firms said that after 'initial discussions, they had decided not to go ahead. 'Both firms have been impressed by each other’s businesses and market positioning. Following constructive talks, we have mutually agreed not to take the proposed merger forward,' the statement continued. 'We have valued the opportunity to get to know each other better and wish each other every success for the future.'
Taylor Wessing became an independent European firm in June, following the UK arm’s merger with US firm Winston & Strawn. That combination created one of the largest transatlantic firms, with more than 1,400 lawyers primarily in the United States, the UK and Europe. Taylor Wessing the Netherlands and Belgium voted to join the new entity while he legacy Taylor Wessing verein, in Germany and elsewhere entered a cooperation and referral arrangement.
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