Pending partner approval, Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft plan to merge, forming a new entity named Hogan Lovells Cadwalader. With over $3.6 billion in annual revenue, it will rank as the world’s fifth-largest law firm. A vote on the merger is scheduled for 2026.
Upon completion, the merger will be the largest in legal industry history. It will unite more than 3,100 lawyers, establishing a presence in key markets across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Only Hogan Lovells currently operates in the Middle East, with offices in Dubai and Riyadh.
A New Global Legal Powerhouse
The new firm will focus on finance, corporate, regulatory, and disputes expertise. It aims to serve clients in financial markets, especially along the New York–London corridor. Operations will be centered in five primary hubs: Washington, DC, New York, London, Germany, and a regional platform covering France, Italy, and Spain.
Hogan Lovells chief executive officer Miguel Zaldivar said the combination meets growing client demand for global reach and deep sector expertise. He highlighted Cadwalader’s top-tier finance capabilities as a key asset.
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Zaldivar will lead the combined firm as CEO. Cadwalader’s co-managing partners, Wes Misson and Pat Quinn, will join the international management committee. Misson will serve as global managing partner of the finance practice. Quinn will become global managing partner for client and practice integration.
A Strategic Union
Mission described the merger as fulfilling a shared ambition to build a global firm with a strong transatlantic platform. Quinn emphasized the alignment of their core values, including excellence and client commitment. He expressed confidence that their cultures would complement each other.
The move solidifies Hogan Lovells’ long-standing goal to strengthen its US presence. Hogan Lovells had previously explored a merger with Shearman & Sterling in late 2022 and early 2023, but those talks ended without an agreement. The new deal with Cadwalader, Wall Street’s oldest law firm, achieves that strategic objective.
This transaction reflects a wider trend. UK law firms are increasingly seeking US partnerships to expand their footprint and scale in the world’s largest legal market. In 2024, Allen & Overy merged with Shearman & Sterling to form A&O Shearman. Herbert Smith Freehills combined with Kramer Levin to create HSF Kramer. More transatlantic mergers are planned, including Ashurst with Perkins Coie and Taylor Wessing with Winston & Strawn, both expected to complete the following year.