We've had a very exciting month of June at Womble Carlyle with the announcement that the firm will be combining with United Kingdom-based Bond Dickinson LLP to form Womble Bond Dickinson.  

Effective from October 2017, the new firm will have more than 420 partners and 1,000 lawyers across 8 offices in the UK and 15 offices in the US.  More about the new venture here.

Big news for the firm, but what does it mean for our clients and contacts here in Silicon Valley? My first thoughts have revolved around access – access to new markets, access to new investors and sources of financing, and access to a savvy team of corporate lawyers who know what it takes to succeed in the U.K. and Europe generally.

In that regard, we've been meeting this week in Palo Alto with three of the senior practice leaders from Bond Dickinson, including Steve Pierce (head of the Corporate team), Simon Pilling (head of the Private Equity group) and Simon Watts (Business Group Head for Corporate & Commercial Services), all of whom have more than 25 years of experience as corporate lawyers.

All of us in the Silicon Valley office had a great time this week touring Simon, Steve and Simon around the Valley, introducing them to many of our connections in the areas and generally exploring synergies between our clients and practices.  

Bond Dickinson is extremely keen to build relationships in our part of the world which will lead to the exporting of clients for whom they act in the UK, over to the Silicon Valley and beyond.  

Simon told me in advance of the visit: "Many of our clients and wider connections have a strong interest in the US and it seems clear that there are real opportunities for us to connect them to the business communities in a number of locations in the US, including the Silicon Valley, from our bases in London and throughout the UK."

As I told Simon and his colleagues, our team in California is very interested in returning the favour and making introductions and identifying opportunities in the UK for our local clients and contacts. Let me know if you'd be interested in hearing more about the new combination.

Have a great 4th. Back at you later in July.

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