Member Article

Legal firm DWF expands international business with French merger

UK legal business DWF has announced it has completed a merger with a Paris-based law office as part of its international expansion plans.

The merger with Heenan Paris will see four of the firm’s partners, including Jean-François Mercadier, Ali Boroumand, Pascale Gallien and Anne-Sylvie Vassenaix-Paxton, join DWF as the Manchester-headquartered legal business continues to expand its European footprint.

Described as one of the ‘leading international law firms in Sub-Saharan French-speaking Africa’, the coming together provides significant benefits for DWF’s clients, especially those looking to expand into emerging African markets.

DWF’s Managing Partner and Chief Executive, Andrew Leaitherland, said the move was part of the firm’s efforts to grow its business internationally in a way that best services their clients’ needs.

He said: “France is a key market for us, both in terms of its size and importance within Europe and because our clients are instructing us on an increasing amount of work with a significant French legal component. As one of Germany’s largest and most significant trading partners, the merger also complements our growing European footprint.”

Boasting strategic alliances with the likes of South African law firm, Thomson Wilks, and a client base derived from the Corporate, Private Equity, Commercial, IP/IT and Litigation sectors, Leaitherland believes the merger will open up new opportunities for many of DWF’s clients.

He added: “France plays a key role too as a gateway to Africa, which is of strategic importance to our clients in the Middle East and Germany.

“Africa is an emerging growth region in its own right with many opportunities to develop business and revenues in sectors that play to our strengths such as energy, regulation, regulated activities, insurance and financial services.”

Heenan Paris Managing Partner Jean-François Mercadier added: “We are delighted to join DWF with whom we share the same values and approach to clients and operate in the same key sectors.

“We are particularly happy to contribute to the development of an international platform whose ambition is to be present in key financial centres and with a focus on key growth markets such as Africa to the benefit of our clients.”