Squire Sanders Partners Approve Western Australia Combination

PERTH, Australia, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The global partnership of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey has enthusiastically approved the proposed combination with Minter Ellison Perth, placing Squire Sanders among the world's top 20 legal practices. Partners at the firm in Western Australia voted earlier this month to join Squire Sanders' global legal practice. The combination will take effect by October.

Approximately 80 lawyers in Perth, including 14 partners, will join Squire Sanders, bringing the practice's global total to more than 1,300 lawyers in 36 offices and 17 countries. The combined legal practice will be among the top 20 firms by headcount in The American Lawyer's Global 100, and among the 15 largest US-based legal practices, as ranked by The National Law Journal's NLJ 250. With US$725 million in anticipated revenue, the combined practice will be among the top firms ranked in The Lawyer's Transatlantic Elite.

The combination gives Squire Sanders a strengthened Asia Pacific presence and additional practice capabilities in key areas such as corporate finance, labor and employment, litigation and international dispute resolution, intellectual property and technology, competition and regulatory, planning, environmental and real estate. In addition, the combination complements and expands Squire Sanders' global industry expertise in key sectors including energy and natural resources, major projects, and engineering and construction.

Squire Sanders chair and global chief executive officer James J. Maiwurm said:

"We are creating a more powerful and effective platform for our clients, who operate in many different markets ranging from Australia, across Asia Pacific and into Africa. Our expanded practice, with its additional talent, expertise and local market knowledge, will help us provide clients with value on a global scale.

"Our new colleagues are established market leaders, whether in the domestic practice, complicated cross-border transactions and international disputes, or key sectors such as energy and natural resources. Squire Sanders' longstanding presence in Asia Pacific, its local knowledge and its varied industry expertise make for a combined legal practice with significant growth prospects in the wider region."

Current Minter Ellison Perth (and designated Squire Sanders Australia) managing partner John Poulsen said: "This is an important step for our team in Perth as we become part of a genuinely global legal practice. We are very excited about the combination as it enables us to provide enhanced service to domestic and international clients operating or investing in Western Australia."

About Squire Sanders – Founded in 1890, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey has lawyers in 36 offices and 16 countries around the world, and since January 2011 has included the nearly 500 lawyers from leading UK legal practice Hammonds. With one of the strongest integrated global platforms and our longstanding "one-firm firm" philosophy, Squire Sanders provides seamless legal counsel worldwide.

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey refers to an international legal practice which operates worldwide through a number of separate legal entities. Please visit www.ssd.com for more information.

Media contacts:

Paula Rogers, Minter Ellison Perth, Business Development Manager, [email protected], +61.8.9429.7444

Andrew Gregory, Squire Sanders, Communications Manager, [email protected], +44.0.20.7655.1257

Drez Jennings, Squire Sanders, Media Relations Manager, [email protected], +1.216.802.7301

SOURCE Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.