Partners at Taylor Wessing and Winston & Strawn have voted to approve their pending merger, moving the deal toward completion in May 2026. The vote was described by a firm spokesperson as “resoundingly in favour of the combination.”
Partner endorsement clears the hurdle
The merger was first announced in December 2025 and required approval from each firm’s partnership. Both groups cast their ballots this month, meeting the condition set for the transaction to proceed.
According to the announcement, the partnership vote was unanimous enough to satisfy governance thresholds. No financial details were disclosed, but the affirmative outcome signals confidence in the joint strategy.
Structure of the new organization
When the merger finalizes, the entity will operate under the name Winston Taylor. It will employ more than 1,400 lawyers across 20 offices worldwide.
The new organization will place the Middle East at the core of its market plan, with a Dubai office joining locations in Europe, Latin America, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Executive appointments and client service commitments
He added that clients need premier teams in those hubs for critical transactions, litigation and IP work, and that both firms share an absolute commitment to achieving client objectives, the basis of shared success.
Steve D’Amore will continue as chair of the combined firm. He said the partnership support reflects a shared passion to deliver unparalleled advice, enabling cross-border work for businesses, people and markets driving capital and innovation.
Strategic focus and market presence
Taylor Wessing currently runs a single Dubai office and is reportedly evaluating entry into Saudi Arabia. By contrast, Winston & Strawn runs a Middle East practice staffed from its global sites but lacks a dedicated regional office.
The combined entity will blend capabilities in litigation, transactions, intellectual property and private wealth. Target sectors include financial services, life sciences and technology.
Offices in Belgium and the Netherlands have agreed to adopt the Winston Taylor brand. Over time, and pending regulatory clearance, these locations are expected to merge fully with the UK and US operations.
A cooperation and referral arrangement will also link the new organization with the former Taylor Wessing verein in Germany and other jurisdictions.
“This combination creates a transatlantic law firm in the major hubs of innovation and capital in the US, Europe, and the Middle East,” said Shane Gleghorn, managing partner of Taylor Wessing UK. “Our partners, therefore, voted in favour of the combination because both firms have an absolute commitment to achieving our clients’ objectives.”
Steve D’Amore, chair of Winston & Strawn, added: “The decisive, overwhelming support from our partnerships reflects a shared passion and commitment to meeting our clients’ desire for a unified team across the Atlantic.”
The two legacy firms bring together over four centuries of combined history. Founded in 1853, the US firm counts roughly 1,000 lawyers in 14 offices. The UK firm, established in 1782, employs more than 450 lawyers across the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Middle East.
This merger follows a series of similar cross-ocean deals, including the 2024 formation of A&O Shearman and the 2024 creation of HSF Kramer. A planned combination between Ashurst and Perkins Coie is also slated for later this year.