Law firm highlights – March 2022

• Trowers & Hamlins has pledged to achieve a target of net zero emissions by 2030 as part of the firm’s responsible business strategy. The strategy is embedded in the firm’s governance and brought to life by senior leaders, our internal networks and stakeholders through changes to behaviours, processes and operations to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Senior partner, Sara Bailey said, “We believe in the importance of having buy-in at all levels and recognise that we all need to act to achieve our goals and contribute to a better future. As for all businesses, this is a challenging target, but we’re optimistic that, with each of us taking responsibility and doing our bit, we will get there. We believe in delivering real and lasting change for the benefit of our clients, our people and wider society, whilst at the same time doing our best to minimise the impact of our operations on the environment.” As part of its strategy, the firm will organise workshops for key stakeholders and staff to discuss the implications of its net zero target, and will be working to identify the most impactful changes using metrics to track progress towards achieving its target.

• PwC Legal Middle East has opened an office in Doha, further strengthening its competitive edge in a fast-growing market. PwC Legal Middle East’s new Qatar legal offering allows PwC Middle East to offer its clients in the country a unique integrated offering, from standalone legal services to complementing the firm’s services across tax, deals, assurance and consulting. PwC is the only Big 4 firm that has an established law firm integrated with a Big 4 firm in Qatar. The Qatar office opening complements PwC Legal’s regional offering, including its presence in the UAE and KSA (through a strategic alliance with Dr Qaisar H Metawea Law Firm). PwC Legal is growing across the Middle East region with an objective to double headcount in Middle East markets. PwC Legal Middle East leader, Darren Harris, commented,“We are delighted to enter the Qatar legal market and to work with our PwC Qatar colleagues to offer a unique integrated service to our clients. Our one stop shop model helps to build trusted relationships and deliver sustained outcomes for our clients. We have ambitious plans to grow our legal business in this important market and we are investing to bring the best of the market’s legal talent to join our legal business.” Bassam Hajhamad, country senior partner, PwC Qatar said: “Obtaining a legal license to operate in Qatar is a crucial step in PwC Legal Middle East’s growth plan and expansion in the GCC. With the ability to deliver real impact for our clients in Qatar through a multidisciplinary service offering – which includes legal services – we have established PwC Legal as a one-stop shop, offering holistic solutions and better outcomes for our clients.” Qatar Tax market leader at PwC in Qatar, Sajid Khan, said, “At PwC, we continue to be committed to Qatar by further expanding our services and playing a leading role in some of the landmark projects in the country. Bringing PwC Legal to Qatar is a testimony to our commitment toward Qatar and continued investment in this important market and our clients.”

• The Partners of Addleshaw Goddard and Eugene F Collins have agreed to create an enhanced platform by merging their respective businesses which will quickly and directly benefit national, UK and international clients operating in, to and from Ireland. The business, people and all 25 Eugene F Collins partners will become part of the Addleshaw Goddard group by March 1, 2022, accelerating each firm’s strategic focus on providing a client-shaped service in growing markets around the world. The addition of a well-established, full-service, Top 15 Ireland practice alongside offices in Germany and France extends AG’s influence throughout the main business centres in Europe, bringing the total number of AG offices outside of the UK to 10. Eugene F Collins and AG will together deliver stronger client and sector offerings in a comprehensive range of areas, especially financial services, real estate, retail and consumer, technology and life sciences. The business has ambitious growth targets for the region and plans to double in size by 2025.

  In a joint statement, John Joyce, managing partner of Addleshaw Goddard, and Mark Walsh, managing partner of Eugene F Collins, said, “This is an exciting moment for both firms, driven by the recognition that there is great chemistry between us and a shared commitment to finding the smartest ways of delivering the biggest business impact to clients of all sizes in Ireland, Europe and beyond.”

  John Joyce added a presence in Dublin for AG unlocks opportunities with more UK and international businesses doing business in Ireland, “Ireland is a really key jurisdiction. It is a global hub for world-leading, fast-growing businesses in a range of sectors including FS, tech and life sciences and establishing a presence here fulfils a need we’ve been looking at for some time. The obvious strategic and cultural fit between AG and Eugene F Collins makes this a logical and very attractive proposition for both firms. They are a terrific business, and we look forward to sharing the benefits with new and existing clients.”

  Mark Walsh who becomes head of Ireland added that the combination with AG brings immediate scale and depth of expertise to Irish-based clients, “Our firms have known each other for several years and as talks progressed, we have been struck by the business synergies as well as the compatibility of our cultures and vision. The ability to operate on a global platform in markets which are important to our clients, makes good sense for all staff and clients of Eugene F Collins. Combining forces on innovation and legal tech will also enhance our national practice and position the new business very well for further growth. We look forward to continuing to grow the firm with Addleshaw Goddard, delivering market-leading advice to our clients.”

  Eugene F Collins acts for blue chip clients, many with Irish HQs or roots, together with a range of businesses active across the UK and internationally. While the two firms have some clients in common particularly in the financial services, R&C and real estate sectors, their client portfolios are largely complementary. In recent months transactional teams have collaborated on a number of assignments which has reinforced the view that this will be a highly successful combination. The merger with Eugene F Collins, which was founded in 1893, comes one year after AG launched in Paris and two years after opening in Germany, with both of those jurisdictions tracking well ahead of initial plans with already nearly 100 people on the ground.