DLA Piper Partners Approve Plan to Dissolve Swiss Verein (1)

DLA Piper partners voted to ditch their verein structure, crossing the biggest hurdle in the law firm’s plan to push a common strategy across the entire global operation.

The firm announced on Friday that partners approved the new global entity operating under a single leadership team.

“This vote was more overwhelming than I could ever hope for,” London-based global co-CEO Charles Severs said in an interview. This vote is “a massive catalyst” that will allow the firm to hire teams on a global basis to win clients, be more ambitious, and attract and retain talent, he said.

The decision to dissolve the verein highlights DLA Piper’s push to increase the flexibility of its operations and drive profitability in the US and internationally. The 4,800-lawyer firm aims to build upon its 80 offices across the globe and revenue that topped $4.6 billion in 2025.

A new global holding company will oversee two partnerships: DLA Piper US and DLA Piper International. The changes are set to be implemented on May 1.

“The partnership vote has demonstrated that everyone’s bought in and everyone wants to move fast because the market’s moving fast,” Severs said. “We have the opportunity and we’re determined to take it.”

DLA adopted the Swiss verein in 2005 amid efforts to expand internationally and in March announced plans to move away from the structure.

Severs will continue in his role as co-CEO alongside US-based Frank Ryan, who will also serve as global chair of the firm. The leadership team will include John Gilluly and Loren Brown as vice chairs, Sandra Wallace and Rick Chesley as global co-managing partners, and Benjamin Parameswaran as the firm’s international managing director for clients.

Firm senior leadership will have its first meeting next week, Ryan said. Given the firm’s scope and capabilities, it is “an exciting place to be,” he said. “You’ll see a lot more movement of talent towards us.”

The firm has made high-profile hires in recent months, including Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz’s M&A partner Viktor Sapezhnikov and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld’s private capital team, including the head of its capital solutions team Ranesh Ramanathan.