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Dentons launches inaugural Golden Spike combinations in the United States

Posted: 22nd September 2020

The combination is the first step in forming a truly national US law firmthrough an innovative, client-centric, one-firm dual partnership modelconnecting clients to top-tier legal talent across the US and around the world.

January 27, 2020—Today, Dentons launches its previously announced combinations in the United States. The combination of Bingham Greenebaum and Cohen & Grigsby, together with Dentons US, launches the first step in forming a truly national law firm in the United States as part of Dentons’ “Project Golden Spike.”

Building on Dentons’ global polycentric model, the new national partnership increases the quality and breadth of service to clients on a national and global scale, while also enabling member firms—beginning with Dentons US, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum and Dentons Cohen & Grigsby—to retain their defining characteristics and provide in and of the community insight wherever clients need it.

Clients benefit from a model that ensures they are served by the partners they know and trust while also having access to the best technology and more talent in more places across the country and around the world.

“Our innovative one-firm, dual partnership model ensures that the world’s largest law firm is also a local firm.  This basic element of our strategy is resonating with clients and elite law firms alike,” said Joe Andrew, Global Chair of Dentons. “Strong, independent firms are speaking with us because clients want what our model offers: more talent in more places, with lawyers who have a deep understanding of what clients need in each market to succeed and thrive.”

The new US Region will be governed by a Management Committee led by Mike McNamara, Dentons US Chief Executive Officer; Keith Bice, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum Managing Partner; Chris Carson, Dentons Cohen & Grigsby President and CEO; and Mary Wilson, Dentons US Managing Partner.  Toby McClamroch will be Managing Partner of Dentons’ US Region.

“We are excited and proud to be introducing today Dentons Bingham Greenebaum and Dentons Cohen & Grigsby,” said Elliott Portnoy, Global CEO of Dentons. “The creativity and collaboration of Toby, Keith and Chris, alongside Mike, Mary and the confidence and talent of our partners across the US, has been instrumental in developing a law firm model that now positions us to build the first truly national US law firm.”

Clients now benefit from Dentons’ 33 offices in the United States, including offices in nine of the 10 largest markets and 14 of the top 20. Including previously announced combinations, clients now have access to the experience and talents of more than 10,000 Dentons lawyers in 182 locations and 74 countries across the globe.

“Today marks an exceptional moment for our Firm and the business and profession of law.  Our new national partnership allows us to significantly expand our capabilities for clients across the US,” said Mike McNamara, CEO of Dentons US. “With additional talent at Dentons Bingham Greenebaum and Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, we are building a US law firm focused on the priorities of clients in the US and around the world who need to compete in this new decade in an ever-evolving, fast-changing global and local marketplace.”

Dentons Bingham Greenebaum has helped clients close deals, manage risk and open doors to new opportunities for more than 100 years. Its more than 175 lawyers provide transactional, litigation, estate planning, tax and employee benefits, and economic development advice to clients across a variety of industries and business sectors from offices in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

“We are very proud to be one of the foundational Golden Spike firms,” said Keith Bice, Managing Partner of Dentons Bingham Greenebaum. “We firmly believe that this model unlocks growth opportunities for clients and enables us to assist them in new and significant ways.”

Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, a leading provider of business-critical legal services, is comprised of more than 140 lawyers with offices in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Naples, Florida. The firm’s lawyers have developed core and specialty areas to meet client demands in business services, commercial and complex litigation, workforce solutions and private wealth management.

“We have been very encouraged by our clients’ reaction to the announcement of Golden Spike,” said Chris Carson, President and CEO of Dentons Cohen & Grigsby. “Our clients, whose loyalty over many decades has been our greatest asset, immediately saw this as a smart play, and one that would give them access to legal talent in so many more places—both in the US and around the world.”

“We are delighted to be embarking on a new decade using an innovative law firm model to deliver better client service across the world’s largest legal market,” said Toby McClamroch, Managing Partner of Dentons’ US Region. “This momentous day would not have been possible without the vision and energy of Dentons’ Global Chair, Joe Andrew, alongside so many other talented colleagues.”

Today’s launch enhances the depth and breadth of services to clients resulting from collaboration among the highly regarded Bankruptcy, Corporate, Emerging Businesses/Venture Tech, Employee Benefits, Energy, Financial Services, Global Mobility, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, M&A, Private Equity, Real Estate and Trusts & Estates/Wealth Management practices at each firm.

In 2019, Dentons’ partners led the profession by approving 14 combinations around the world.

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