Nabarro is to lose its seat in the five firm Broadlaw Group as a consequence of its merger plans with CMS Cameron McKenna and Olswang.
The legal alliance of European firms included links with more than 1,000 lawyers in 30 cities across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Member firms include 150-lawyer German firm GSK Stockman + Kollegen, 160-lawyer French firm Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés, Italian firm Nunziante Magrone and 250-lawyer Spanish firm Roca Junynet.
The network of independent firms formed an alliance with reach across Europe as well as practices as far as Shanghai, Tokyo and Singapore in Asia; Dubai in the Middle East; and Algiers, Cameroon and Casablanca in Africa.
The five firms did not share fees within the referral network. The alliances were non-exclusive, with firms able to refer work outside the group if necessary. Lefèvre Pelletier managing partner Christophe Jacomin told Legal Business: ‘The alliance will remain between GSK, Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés, Nunziante and Roca Junyent. Other European firms, including UK firms, are interested in joining the Broadlaw alliance.’
French firm August & Debouzy previously left Nabarro’s international alliance in March 2014. The firm was replaced by Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés in November that year.
Nabarro’s merger suitor CMS Cameron McKenna is already part of the franchise group CMS, which includes around 2,900 lawyers as part of the network organised as CMS Legal Services EEIG.
The firms include the branding CMS, but are independent firms other than sharing around €10m for training, branding and business development. Among the firms are CMS Hasche Sigle in Germany and other firms in France, Italy and Spain.
The trio of firms confirmed the union on 10 October after the three partnerships voted in favour of a merger.
Nabarro head of international Patricia Godfrey said: ‘Following the announcement of our merger with CMS and Olswang, I can confirm that we will be resigning from the Broadlaw Group. Over many years we have developed close relations with our colleagues in the four other firms. I would like to thank them all for their support, their referrals and most importantly their friendship during that time and wish them every success for the future.’
matthew.field@legalease.co.uk
Read more in: ‘Working the mechanics: Camerons, Nabarro and Olswang’s leaders on finalising the merger’
