Dentons' combination with Guevara & Gutierrez would further strengthen Dentons’ position as the only pan-Latin American and the Caribbean law firm and would position Dentons as the only global law firm in Bolivia. In 2020, Dentons accounted for 85% of all cross-border law firm combinations and is now the second best-known law firm in the world according to Acritas.
On the heels of announcing a combination with Paz Horowitz Abogados in Ecuador, Dentons, the world's largest law firm, is announcing today a combination with leading Bolivian law firm, Guevara & Gutierrez. In 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic and economic crisis, Dentons accounted for 85% of all cross-border combinations around the world in an environment where other law firms were standing still, contracting or withdrawing from key markets.
In the New Dynamic Decade, clients will continue to be confronted with constant, accelerated change and want to work with a law firm that has the experience and confidence to help them thrive wherever they are located. Dentons is the first Pan-Latin American and the Caribbean law firm in the history of the legal profession and the combination with Guevara & Gutierrez in Bolivia would enable Dentons to connect talent to opportunities in 27 countries in the region and 200 locations in 79 countries around the world.
“The combination with Guevara & Gutierrez will position Dentons as the only global law firm in Bolivia and will continue Dentons' momentum in Latin America and the Caribbean allowing us to better meet our clients’ needs,” said Elliott Portnoy, Global CEO of Dentons. “With the addition of Bolivia, Dentons will be able to connect clients to leading talent in 27 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean and 200 locations across 79 countries around the world."
"In this New Dynamic Decade, our clients are facing constant, accelerated change and are seeking a law firm that has the experience and confidence to help them navigate it wherever they are located," said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman of Dentons. "Even as our competitors are shying away from growth, Dentons remains steadfast in its commitment to serving its clients in more locations than any other law firm."
Guevara & Gutierrez has offices in La Paz and Santa Cruz with nine partners and 25 total lawyers. It is a recognized leader in Banking & Finance, Corporate/Commercial, Dispute Resolution and Energy & Natural Resources, Labor & Employment, and Tax, with a number of Band 1 and 2 Rankings in Chambers Latin America 2020. The combination would lead to significant synergies in light of Dentons' strengths in each of these areas.
"Our strategy to become the dominant global law firm in the region centers around combining with firms with the proven ability to offer high-quality legal services and business solutions in their home markets," said Jorge Alers, CEO of Dentons’ Latin America and the Caribbean Region. "Guevara & Gutierrez is a prestigious and leading firm in Bolivia, which has been identified by our clients as a key location for them to do business."
Since entering the region in 2016, Dentons has become the fastest growing law firm in Latin America and the Caribbean. With offices in La Paz and Santa Cruz, the combination with Guevara & Gutierrez would give Dentons' clients access to an additional team of lawyers who can meet their needs across a wide range of industries, around the world.
Dentons' combination with Guevara & Gutierrez will position Dentons as the only global law firm in Bolivia from launch, connecting clients to top-tier legal talent in 27 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean with offices in:
"Guevara & Gutierrez and Dentons share the vision of building the dominant global law firm in Latin America and the Caribbean, one that allows us to follow the clients we currently serve into every corner of the region and world,” said Ramiro Guevara, Founding Partner of Guevara & Gutierrez. "Dentons' commitment to excellence and unparalleled service are well matched with our own.”
The combination, following approval by partners, is expected to launch in the next several months.
So far, in 2021 Dentons has announced a combination with leading Ecuadorian law firm, Paz Horowitz Abogados and launched Dentons EALC East African Law Chambers in Tanzania.
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