Dentons today launched Nextlaw In-House Solutions, a strategic consulting service, with more than 50 former general counsel across the globe ready to provide integrated, multi-disciplinary solutions to in-house counsel.

The firm formalised its combination with leading Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens last month.

In-house counsel play an increasingly important role in companies all over the world, but often times have limited resources to build contemporary, effective operations. Managing new legal problems, legal technologies, procurement processes, and varying types of legal service providers is more challenging than ever before. A significant gap exists between client expectations of value, innovation and efficiency, and the effectiveness with which law firms are responding.

Driven by the voice of the client, Nextlaw In-House Solutions answers these challenges by bringing together profound experience in the general counsel role from major organizations around the world, along with legal technology and process management experts and professionals across the spectrum of legal operations disciplines, to provide advisory services, market insights and experienced perspectives.

These services can range from delivering solutions to improve the management of external counsel relationships and legal spend to leveraging innovation and legal technology to enhance the value delivered by legal departments. Our experienced team also provides coaching and mentoring for new general counsel or counselling on risk and compliance issues, as well as experienced interim or permanent in-house support wherever and whenever needed.

“As part of Dentons, the largest, most innovative law firm in the world, we enjoy unique advantages, including the privilege of working with and learning from sophisticated clients across the globe, spanning diverse industry sectors, legal systems and cultures,” said Chris Pinnington, CEO of Nextlaw In-House Solutions.

“One thing we consistently hear is that our clients are under enormous pressure, not just to resolve legal issues but to deliver business solutions, play a more strategic role in the C-Suite, modernize their legal departments, redefine processes and implement the latest technologies,” Pinnington said.

“Dentons is at the forefront of reinventing the legal profession, and Nextlaw In-House Solutions is a further step in a comprehensive strategy to lead transformation and disruption in the industry,” said Elliott Portnoy, Dentons Global CEO.

“With the launch of Nextlaw Labs in 2015, Nextlaw Global Referral Network in 2016, Nextlaw Public Affairs Network in 2017, and now Nextlaw In-House Solutions, Dentons is demonstrating that we are a catalyst for change in the delivery of solutions to the challenges confronting our clients. Nextlaw In-House Solutions teams will be on the same side of the table as their clients delivering solutions to the real problems facing in-house counsel,” said Dentons Global Chair Joe Andrew.

“Other firms market to clients, while we are focused on their real, day-to-day challenges. In- house counsel have clients as well, the business leaders, and while Dentons and other law firms will provide solid legal advice, the in house-counsel need more. They need someone who understands the pressures they are under, because they have been in the same situations, and can provide guidance on how to manage those pressures,” added Andrew.

About Dentons

Dentons is the world’s largest law firm, delivering quality and value to clients around the globe. Dentons is a leader on the Acritas Global Elite Brand Index, a BTI Client Service 30 Award winner and recognized by prominent business and legal publications for its innovations in client service, including founding Nextlaw Labs and the Nextlaw Global Referral Network. Dentons’ polycentric approach and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client interests in the communities in which we live and work. www.dentons.com

Leading Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens announced today that it is to combine with Dentons, the world’s largest law firm.

The combination, which is expected to complete later in 2017 following approval by the partnerships of both firms, will offer clients the services of around 800 fee earners in the UK, including 200 partners, operating from offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Milton Keynes and Watford.

“This combination will significantly enhance our scale and capabilities in the UK,” said Dentons’ Global Chief Executive Officer Elliott Portnoy. “Combining with strong, independent and well-established firms is central to Dentons’ ‘in and of the community’ ethos, and with its rich history in the Scottish market Maclay Murray & Spens fits very much into this category. Following soon after our recent combinations with equally high-quality firms in Latin America and the Netherlands, this development accelerates Dentons’ momentum as we continue our journey ‘from largest to leading.'”

“Maclay Murray & Spens is a Scottish leader in some of our strongest practices and sectors including Financial Services, Energy, Transport & Infrastructure, and Real Estate,” said Jeremy Cohen, Chief Executive Officer for Dentons’ UK and Middle East region. “By combining we will also significantly increase our out-of-London capability. Working seamlessly with colleagues in London, our Milton Keynes and Watford offices already enable us to deliver enhanced value to many of our largest clients. This combination will upscale that ability by a very considerable margin.”

“Joining forces with the world’s largest law firm is tremendously exciting for us,” said Kenneth Shand, Chief Executive Officer of Maclay Murray & Spens. “With offices across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific, Dentons will unquestionably be the only significant player in Scotland which is a genuinely global firm. We will have a unique ability to offer Scottish businesses with international ambitions access to the largest array of legal talent in the world, and international firms with an interest in Scotland, the resources of one of the world’s most innovative and forward-thinking law firms.”

“Our vision is to offer clients the ‘law firm of the future’ now,” said Dentons’ Global Chairman Joe Andrew. “By enhancing our ability to serve national and multi-national clients in the UK, the world’s second largest legal market, and continuing to innovate in client service delivery, Dentons continues to set the pace in the global legal market.”