{{short description|Multinational law firm}} {{Use British English|date=December 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox law firm | name = Ashurst | logo =frameless|Ashurst|alt=Ashurst Logo | num_offices = 30 | num_lawyers= 1,600+ | num_employees = 2,800+ | key_people={{ubl|Karen Davies (chairman)|Paul Jenkins (global chief executive officer)}} | practice_areas= General practice | revenue = | date_founded = 1822 (London) | company_type = Limited liability partnership | homepage = {{URL|http://www.ashurst.com|ashurst.com}} }} '''Ashurst''' is a British multinational law firm headquartered in London. It has 30 offices in 18 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ashurst.com/|title=What we do|publisher=Ashurst|access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref> Ashurst is 55th in the list of 100 largest law firms in the world by revenue,<ref>{{Cite web |title=law.com |url=https://www.law.com/law-firm-profile/?id=17&name=Ashurst |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=www.law.com}}</ref> and 6th in the list of largest UK law firms by revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 2023 Global 200 Ranked by Revenue |url=https://www.law.com/international-edition/2023/09/19/the-2023-global-200-ranked-by-revenue/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Law.com International |language=en-us}}</ref>
Its principal business focus is mergers and acquisitions, corporate and structured finance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ashurst.com/expertise-all.aspx?id_Content=16 |title=Ashurst website |access-date=25 November 2010 |archive-date=26 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826082820/https://www.ashurst.com/expertise-all.aspx?id_Content=16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The firm also has practices in other areas including investment funds, antitrust, energy, transport and infrastructure, intellectual property, IT, dispute resolution, financial services, tax, real estate, regulatory, telecommunication and employment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Street |first=165 Fleet |last2=London |last3=Kingdom |first3=United |title=Ashurst - True Picture - Chambers Student Guide |url=https://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/ashurst/true-picture/15/1 |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=www.chambersstudent.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> In April 2026, the partners of Ashurst and Perkins Coie voted to merge the two law firms to form '''Ashurst Perkins Coie'''.<ref name=Thomas/>
== History == === Ashurst Morris Crisp ===
The firm was founded by William H. Ashurst in 1822. John Morris, and Sir Frank Crisp were recruited to the firm in the 1860s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nonbillable.co.uk/law-firms/ashurst|title=Ashurst|publisher=Non-billable|access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>
=== Growth and Financial Crisis === In November 2008, the firm voted in corporate partner Charlie Geffen to succeed Geoffrey Green as senior partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.privatefundscfo.com/pe-in-power/|title=PE in Power|date=1 November 2008|newspaper=Private Funds CFO|access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>
=== Combination with Blake Dawson === {{See also|Ashurst Australia}} On 1 March 2012, Ashurst merged its Asian business with that of Australian law firm Blake Dawson, a member of the Big Six, Blake Dawson being renamed as Ashurst across all offices. Ashurst also gained new offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Port Moresby, Shanghai and Sydney. This significantly increased Ashurst's resources in the energy & resources, infrastructure and financial services sectors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/ashurst-and-blake-dawson-announce-asia-business-combination-and-future-merger-plan/|title=Ashurst and Blake Dawson announce Asia business combination and future merger plans|date=29 September 2011|newspaper=Private Equity Wire|access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>
=== Combination forming Ashurst Perkins Coie === On 17 November 2025, Ashurst announced a merger with the Seattle-headquartered firm of Perkins Coie LLP, to form Ashurst Perkins Coie, with 3,000 attorneys.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/law-firms-ashurst-perkins-coie-agree-merger-create-global-top-20-outfit-2025-11-17/ "Law firms Ashurst, Perkins Coie agree merger to create global top-20 outfit"], Reuters. Retrieved November 17, 2025.</ref> The following April, the partners of both firms voted in support of the merger.<ref name=Thomas>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=David |title=Perkins Coie, Ashurst partners approve law firm merger |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/perkins-coie-ashurst-partners-approve-law-firm-merger-2026-04-13/ |access-date=16 April 2026 |date=13 April 2026}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.ashurst.com/ Ashurst website] * Profiles in the [http://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/Law/FirmFeature/15 ''Chambers Student Guide''], and on [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311092505/http://www.rollonfriday.com/load.asp?page=3.htm RollOnFriday] and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311000849/http://www.camlawsoc.org/profile_ashursts.php Cambridge University Law Society] website. * [http://www.ashurst.com/media-item.aspx?id_Content=7384&expandOfficeList=true&id_queryContent=&showDeals=true/ Ashurst – Blake Dawson Merger]
{{Law firms of the United Kingdom}}
Category:Law firms based in London Category:Law firms established in 1822 Category:1822 establishments in England Category:Foreign law firms with offices in Japan Category:British companies established in 1822 Category:Foreign law firms with offices in Hong Kong Category:Multinational law firms Category:Announced mergers and acquisitions