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Bech-Bruun and Philip count down to merger

13 Dec 2011


Denmark's second biggest firm, Bech-Bruun, will merge with Danish independent Philip & Partners as of January 1 2012 in one of the most significant moves in the Danish market for a number of years.

The two established brands announced their plans on September 29 2011 and are now in the final stages of the merger. The new entity will operate under the name Bech-Bruun, while Philip & Partners - which is no small operation with its 16 lawyer partnership - will cease to operate. As of January, this new Bech-Bruun will field a team of 275 lawyers. 

Bech-Bruun recently lost three partners to new and traditional rivals. The Copenhagen office of Finnish firm Hannes Snellman, which launched in October 2010, picked up partner Peter Lyck. Meanwhile, Tue Ravnholt Frandsen joined Plesner and the expanding Lett recruited one of the firm's big personalities in Niels Erik Nielsen.

The firm currently has highly ranked practices for banking / finance and M&A in the IFLR1000 while having a top tier ranked team for restructuring and insolvency. Philip & Partners is a well-established player in the corporate, restructuring and insolvency fields especially.
 
In a joint press release, chairman of Philip, Jesper Rothe (pictured), said: "We consider the merger of our two law firms as a perfect match and we consider Bech-Bruun to be a very professional and well trimmed organisation". Rothe added that: "The partnership will raise the level of advice rendered to companies to new heights, which accommodates the fact that the realities which our clients face today are increasingly complex."

Bech-Bruun's managing partner Randi Bach Poulsen said: "Philip is a very well-reputed, full-service law firm with specialist competencies and a strong client base, which fits in well with the strategic focus of Bech-Bruun". The full press release can be seen here.
   
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