Taylor Wessing–Winston & Strawn Merger Leverages Dubai For Middle East Growth
Taylor Wessing–Winston & Strawn merger leverages Dubai for Middle East growth
The major international law firm Taylor Wessing and the prominent global law firm Winston & Strawn announced their intention to merge, creating a transatlantic law firm with more than 1,400 lawyers across 20 offices. The combined firm, to be named Winston Taylor, will position the Middle East as a core market, with Dubai serving as a key regional office.
The merger, expected to close in May 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and partner votes, aims to provide integrated US–UK–EU legal services to clients operating across global markets. Leveraging complementary strengths, the combined firm will offer best-in-class capabilities in major litigation, critical transactions, strategic intellectual property, and private wealth.
Clients will benefit from a unified team with cross-jurisdictional expertise across corporate, private equity, real estate, finance, antitrust, regulatory, and IP matters. The combination also merges Taylor Wessing UK’s Tier 1 UK–EU IP practice with Winston & Strawn’s premier U.S. intellectual property litigation capabilities, creating a market-leading transatlantic IP platform.
Steve D’Amore, Chairman of Winston & Strawn, said,
“This combination will establish an elite practice in the major commercial centers important to our clients. Winston Taylor will be positioned to lead on the most sophisticated litigation and transactions in the world’s most defining industries.”
Shane Gleghorn, Managing Partner of Taylor Wessing UK, said,
“By combining Winston & Strawn’s strength across the U.S. with our coverage of London, Europe, and the Middle East, we are creating a firm with the highest level of transatlantic capabilities in key practices and sectors. Dubai will play a central role in driving our Middle East strategy and client engagement.”
The combined business will maintain offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Cambridge, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Dubai, Dublin, Eindhoven, Houston, Liverpool, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paris, San Francisco, São Paulo, Silicon Valley, and Washington DC. Taylor Wessing in the Netherlands and Belgium will operate under the Winston Taylor brand post-merger while maintaining cooperation with the Taylor Wessing verein to provide continuity of client support.
Winston & Strawn LLP is an American multinational law firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1853, it is one of the oldest and largest law firms in the United States, employing approximately 975 attorneys across 15 global offices.
Taylor Wessing is a global law firm headquartered in London, recognized for its expertise in technology, life sciences, healthcare, and private wealth.
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