Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing UK Announce Transatlantic Merger to Form Winston Taylor

Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing’s UK-led business have announced plans to combine, forming a new transatlantic law firm named Winston Taylor. This strategic merger aims to address increasing client demand for seamless legal counsel spanning the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, particularly for businesses, individuals, and markets driving capital and innovation.

The forthcoming combination will unite two international firms with a combined history exceeding 400 years. Together, they will encompass more than 1,400 lawyers, establishing one of the largest transatlantic firms with a primary presence in the US, UK, and Europe, as well as offices in Latin America and the Middle East.

Winston Taylor will leverage significant expertise and scale in major litigation, critical transactions, strategic intellectual property, and private wealth. The firm will deliver best-in-class client service across key sectors such as technology, life sciences, and financial services. Clients will benefit from a unified team offering comprehensive capabilities across multiple jurisdictions to support pivotal moments throughout their business lifecycles.

Steve D’Amore, Chairman of Winston & Strawn and future Chairman of Winston Taylor, emphasized the merger’s strategic value: “Once combined, we will have a London-headquartered partner that fulfills our long-held ambition to grow in the UK, while preserving the culture, agility, focus, and relentless client service that define Winston & Strawn. This combination will establish an elite practice in the major commercial centers important to our clients. Winston Taylor will be positioned to lead on the most sophisticated litigation and transactions in the world’s most defining industries.”

Shane Gleghorn, Managing Partner of Taylor Wessing UK and soon to be Managing Partner of Europe and Middle East for Winston Taylor, added, “In Winston & Strawn, Taylor Wessing UK will have a US partner that shares our vision, our values, and culture, and absolute focus on the highest levels of client service. By combining Winston & Strawn’s strength in the major hubs across the United States with our coverage of the key centers of London, Europe, and the Middle East, we will have created a firm with the highest level of transatlantic capabilities in key practices and sectors.”

The combined firm will integrate aligned practices and shared clients, with cultures rooted in innovation and exceptional client service. Its expanded capabilities will include corporate, private equity, real estate, finance, antitrust, regulatory, and private wealth services, providing clients with end-to-end global business strategy and support.

Notably, the merger will unite Taylor Wessing UK’s Tier 1 UK–EU holistic intellectual property practice with Winston & Strawn’s premier US intellectual property litigation practice, creating a market-leading transatlantic IP platform.

As part of the combination, Taylor Wessing’s Netherlands and Belgium offices will enter into an agreement to operate under the Winston Taylor brand, further extending the firm’s integrated reach.