Winston & Strawn, Taylor Wessing Partners Approve Big Law Merger

Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing partners approved the firms’ transatlantic merger, paving the way for the combination to go live in May.

Chicago-founded Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing’s UK-led business said on Friday that the partnerships of each firm “have voted decisively in favor of combining” to create Winston Taylor, a deal that will create a new transatlantic firm with more than 1,400 lawyers worldwide with a combined revenue of more than $1.75 billion.

“The decisive, overwhelming support from our partnerships reflects a shared passion and commitment to meeting our clients’ desire for a unified team across the Atlantic—one that delivers unparalleled advice and capability in the areas that matter most to them,” Steve D’Amore, Winston & Strawn’s chair said in a statement.

D’Amore, who has led Winston since 2024, will continue as chair of the combined firm.

Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing’s UK business, which has operations in the UK, Ireland, and Dubai, as well as lawyers in San Francisco, announced that they would merge in December, marking the latest combination in a string of transatlantic Big Law tie-ups. Seattle’s Perkins Coie and UK law firm Ashurst in November said that they expect to merge next year. Manhattan’s Kramer Levin and UK-Australia firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer officially mergedin June 2025.

Taylor Wessing partners in the Netherlands and Belgium also voted to enter an agreement to operate under the Winston Taylor brand.Those regions will fully integrate into a single firm with the US and UK operations of Winston Taylor, over time and subject to approvals, the firms said.

Winston Taylor has also agreed to a referral arrangement with the remainder of the Taylor Wessing verein, the firms said.