|
The Big Six law firms, was a term informally used in Australia to refer to the commercial law firms which, collectively, were the largest firms operating in Australia in terms of revenue and lawyers employed, and perceived to be the most prestigious〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/plp/pdf/Australian_Legal_Profession.pdf )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.businessreviewaustralia.com/money_matters/big-six-australia%E2%80%99s-top-commercial-law-firms )〕 before four merged or formed association relationships with firms from other countries, primarily the United Kingdom, in 2012. Before 2012, the following firms were generally seen as composing the Big Six (listed alphabetically): *Allens Arthur Robinson (now Allens, which operates in association with Linklaters LLP) *Blake Dawson (now part of Ashurst LLP) *Clayton Utz *Freehills (now part of Herbert Smith Freehills) *Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now part of King & Wood Mallesons) *Minter Ellison In 2012, three of these firms merged with overseas firms, and one other began operating in association with an overseas firm. As a consequence, it has proposed that the "Big Six" as a term is no longer applicable to the Australian legal profession, displaced by the concept of 'global elite' law firms or 'international business law firms'.〔Beaton Research & Consulting (2012). (An obituary for the term "Big 6" law firms in Australia ). Retrieved 14 November 2012.〕 ==Developments since 2012== From 1 March 2012, Blake Dawson traded as "Ashurst Australia"〔"Blake Dawson Services Pty Ltd" (entry in database) in (''Company360'' ), Dun & Bradstreet (Australia) Pty Ltd., accessed 2 March 2012; "Ashurst (formerly Blake Dawson Services) is a collaboration between former Australian commercial law firm Blake Dawson, and global firm Ashurst. Effective 1 March 2012, Blake Dawson will re-brand as Ashurst; a full financial merger is planned for 2014."〕 until a full financial merger with Ashurst LLP on 1 November 2013; the full merger took place six months ahead of schedule.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.ashurst.com/media-item.aspx?id_Content=9601 )〕 Mallesons Stephen Jaques is currently trading as King & Wood Mallesons, after a merger and reorganisation with Chinese firm King & Wood, which has resulted in a Swiss Verein-structured association amongst what was the Australian and UK practice of Mallesons Stephen Jaques, a fully merged, combined Hong Kong practice, and a fully merged, combined mainland China practice consisting mainly of the existing King & Wood practice.〔Chris Merritt, "Big three not worried by new arrivals", ''The Australian'', 24 February 2012 (All-round First edition), p 33; "THREE big national law firms have shrugged off the arrival of giant international competitors and have entrenched their position as the unchallenged home of the nation's elite lawyers. The lead of the big three over their international rivals has been identified by Chambers and Partners in the latest edition of its authoritative guide to the profession, Chambers Asia-Pacific. The guide shows that those practice groups that operate at an elite, or 'band one', level are concentrated in three firms: Freehills, Allens Arthur Robinson and Mallesons Stephen Jaques. ... From next week, Mallesons will enter a Swiss-style verein with China's King & Wood and become King & Wood Mallesons; Freehills is in the first stages of talks about a link with global giant Herbert Smith; and fourth-ranked Blake Dawson will next week adopt the name of its international alliance partner, Ashurst."〕 In 2013, King & Wood Mallesons further merged with London-headquartered "Silver Circle" law firm SJ Berwin.〔(KING & WOOD MALLESONS AND SJ BERWIN COMBINE TO CREATE FIRST GLOBAL LAW FIRM HEADQUARTERED IN ASIA ). 2013-07-31〕 Allens Arthur Robinson changed its name to "Allens" on 1 May 2012, and began to operate in association with Magic Circle firm Linklaters. The association arrangements will see the firms operate with joint ventures in some parts of Asia, Allens practices merging into Linklaters practices in other parts, and the two firms operating jointly on certain matters.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Allens and Linklaters form integrated alliance )〕 Freehills merged with London-headquartered "Silver Circle" law firm Herbert Smith, effective from 1 October 2012. The full financial merger created a single, global firm called "Herbert Smith Freehills".〔Bloomberg (2012). (Herbert Smith To Merge With Freehills, Open In New York ). Retrieved 28 June 2012.〕 The expansion of other, non-"Big Six" law firms in Australia has also changed the professional landscape. For instance, national commercial law firm HWL Ebsworth expanded dramatically over the last decade and from 2015 the firm expects to have over 195 partners and 9 national offices, which would make it the second largest law firm (measured by number of partners) in Australia.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.hwlebsworth.com.au/component/k2/item/1501-hwl-ebsworth-significantly-increases-investment-in-south-australia-with-lawson-smith-lawyers-acquisition.html )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Big Six (law firms)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|