In a landmark move reshaping the legal industry, McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel have completed their much-anticipated merger, officially combining forces on August 1, 2025. The union forms a new global powerhouse operating under the name McDermott Will & Schulte, positioning the firm among the top players in the U.S. legal market.
The merger brings together nearly 1,750 attorneys across more than 20 offices worldwide, with a combined revenue exceeding $2.8 billion—a significant increase from their previously separate totals of $2.2 billion (McDermott) and $618 million (Schulte). The new firm is expected to make an immediate impact, particularly in high-demand areas like healthcare law, private capital, regulatory litigation, and tax advisory.
A Strategic Expansion in Key Markets
The merger is part of a broader strategy to deepen the firm’s influence in two critical global legal hubs: New York and London. While McDermott has long maintained a global presence, Schulte’s strength in investment management and private capital—especially in New York—enhances the firm’s access to elite clientele and talent. The newly formed McDermott Will & Schulte is also planning a significant expansion in the U.K., with a new office in London’s Mayfair district set to open by 2028.
“This merger allows us to offer broader, deeper, and more globally connected services to our clients,” a representative from the combined firm noted. The union aims to provide comprehensive cross-border legal counsel to clients navigating complex regulatory and transactional matters.
Another Sign of Industry Consolidation
This merger continues the trend of high-profile consolidations within the legal industry, following recent mergers involving Allen & Overy with Shearman & Sterling and Herbert Smith Freehills with Kramer Levin. Analysts view such moves as strategic responses to client demands for full-service legal providers with international reach and specialized expertise.
The merger also demonstrates the importance of scale and multidisciplinary services in today’s legal market, as clients increasingly seek firms that can offer integrated solutions across practice areas and jurisdictions.
📌 For attorneys interested in exploring new opportunities with leading firms like McDermott Will & Schulte—or tracking major shifts in the legal hiring landscape—visit LawCrossing.com to stay ahead of the curve.
