The Impact & Implication of DLA’s Office Closures in Germany & Georgia
DLA Piper has built a highly international platform through a verein structure where the firm has separate profit centres and governances structures in the US LLP and the UK LLP. The firm has leveraged its offices in 4o countries to win truly cross border work. So much so the firm has the highest M&A deal volume according to Mergermarket and has been in a similar position for 7 consecutives years.
However, the firm is clearly rebasing itself and assessing each individual location for strategic importance and financial performance. Through this strategic review, the firm has chosen to close in Berlin, Germany and Tbilisi in Georgia. Both offices have been picked up by firms on their own international journey; the team in Tbilisi heading for Dentons while the Berliners moving en masse to lesser known UK law firms DWF.
Nick says:
I doubt that these closures signify a major shift in strategy from the DLA leadership. Instead, I believe that the firm’s Partners are looking for ways to cut costs and close offices that are less important to the worldwide network. I feel that the firm is also moving the dial in terms of quality while it is streamlining its activities. This is likely to result in lateral recruitment of stellar Partners in key markets for DLA while firm moves in the direction of a quality law firm able to handle truly global work.
Nick Crasner
Founding Partner of Crasner Consulting
Miriam Longchamp
Partner and Head of Consulting at Crasner Consulting
Visit www.crasnerconsulting.com or call us on +44 (0) 203 713 1862 for more information
