Herbert Smith, Kramer Bosses Push Back Law Firm Merger Live Date

The transatlantic merger of Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin is being pushed back a month as partner voting on the deal closes.

The merger implementation date is now set for June 1, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, a change from the May 1 date originally targeted by the firms. Partners at the firms have until Friday to vote on whether to approve the deal.

Partners were told of the pushback in late March, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Representatives for Herbert Smith and Kramer Levin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The merger would create one of the 20 largest law firms in the world with more than $2 billion in revenue, more than 2,700 lawyers, and 25 offices globally. The proposed new firm name is Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, known in the US as HSF Kramer.

Herbert Smith held partner briefings on the tie-up, hosted by jurisdictional leaders, between March 26 and April 1.

Kramer Levin’s Paris office joined US rival Morgan Lewis after the combination was announced, while Herbert Smith has opened a Luxembourg base. The firm also hired 10 lawyers from Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe in January to grow its German operations.