May Day, May Day! Hogan/Lovells Deal Could Wrap By Spring

[WSJ_law_blog]

The cross-Atlantic merger extraordinaire between Hogan & Hartson and Lovells is starting to look serious, very serious.

Thursday, the firms issued a joint press release announcing that the management of both firms unanimously supports the proposed combination.



The firms’ partners will vote in mid-December on the merger, which if approved would become effective May 1, 2010, the firms announced.

Whatever you think about BigLaw, the fact that two major firms are making such a big gamble is a positive sign for the legal economy, nay?

“This would be the first transatlantic merger of two top 30 global law firms, creating a unique global firm,” J. Warren Gorrell, Jr., Hogan’s chairman, said in the press release.

His counterpart at Lovells, David Harris, said: “The strong similarities in the fundamental values of each firm, combined with the powerful business rationale for the merger, are a compelling proposition. Both of us are seeking to create a truly global law firm capable of delivering a top quality service across the world’s major commercial and legal markets.”

So what would this global lion be called? The release doesn’t say, but sources familiar with the talks indicate the Hogan and Lovells name will both survive, in some combination. In Wednesday’s post, commenters suggested “HogLov” and “Hovel,” each of which we hope the management committees will consider.