From left: Ashurst Perkins Coie’s global co-CEOs, Paul Jenkins and Bill Malley
Anglo-Australian firm Ashurst and US firm Perkins Coie have agreed on a transatlantic merger to launch Ashurst Perkins Coie, boasting physical regional coverage in the Asia- Pacific spanning from Greater China to Australia.
“We expect to close on this combination in Q3 of 2026, subject to a partner vote at both firms and other customary conditions to closing,” an Ashurst spokesperson told Asia Business Law Journal.
The Ashurst spokesperson also noted that they will communicate further on specific plans as the combination process progresses.
The USD2.7 billion transatlantic merger, announced on 17 November 2025, allows Perkins Coie to benefit from Ashurst’s finance, energy and infrastructure capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. Ashurst will gain access to Perkins Coie’s strengths in technology and intellectual property, as well as an established presence in the Australian market. Leadership continuity will be ensured, with Bill Malley, Perkins Coie’s managing partner, and Paul Jenkins, Ashurst’s global chief executive officer, serving as global co-CEOs as the merged firm enters its next growth phase.
Ashurst has grown since its origins as a UK firm, most significantly with its merger with Australian firm Blake Dawson in 2012, and has since consolidated its presence in the country with operations in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
The merger expanded Ashurst’s operations across Shanghai, Singapore, Port Moresby, Tokyo and Jakarta, building expertise in energy, infrastructure and finance. Further extending its global reach, Ashurst entered a joint venture with Korean firm HwaHyun in 2022, also growing its Korea practice.
Currently operating in 18 jurisdictions, Ashurst maintains offices in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Papua New Guinea, South Korea and Singapore, and has a presence in Indonesia through an association with local firm OSP. Its India practice is managed out of its London office.
Ashurst’s Tokyo office has also recently grown with the addition of James Hearne, formerly special counsel at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, as a partner in the projects and energy transition practice. Chihiro Ashizawa, previously counsel and the head of capital markets (Japanese law) at Clifford Chance, has also joined Ashurst’s Tokyo team as a partner in its finance practice.
Meanwhile, in Asia, Perkins Coie continues to maintain a small team of three lawyers practising in Taipei, all partners whose expertise is in patent prosecution. All of them are listed as being dually located in Taiwan and the US on the firm’s website as of 19 November 2025.
In September 2024, after shuttering its Shanghai office, Perkins Coie announced that it would also close its Beijing office while shifting its energy towards Shenzhen. In February 2025, China’s Ministry of Justice approved the US firm’s establishment of a representative office in Shenzhen, with Ai Bing as the chief representative and Yuan Wei as the representative. The US firm did not respond to ABLJ’s request for comment on whether the merged firm will continue Perkins Coie’s plan to open a Shenzhen branch.
As of 19 November, Shenzhen is not listed on the US firm’s website as one of its overseas office locations. The two lawyers mentioned in China’s Ministry of Justice notice – partner Ai Bing and counsel Yuan Wei – are currently listed as being located in San Diego as of 19 November 2025.
Recently, Perkins Coie advised US food company Daring Foods in its acquisition by Australia’s v2food. The acquisition also included a strategic partnership with Japan-based ingredients company Ajinomoto.
Upon completion of the merger, Ashurst Perkins Coie will span 52 offices across 23 countries, with flagship hubs in Seattle, London, Sydney and New York. The firm will also gain deep expertise in major financial centres such as Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Paris, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo.
Bringing together Ashurst’s and Perkins Coie’s sector strengths, the merger will allow the combined firm to enter new global markets and expand client relationships, especially in technology, IP, energy, infrastructure and financial services.
Until the merger formally closes in the third quarter of 2026, subject to partner votes and regulatory approvals, both Ashurst and Perkins Coie will continue to operate independently.
