{{Short description|Australian branch of international law firm Ashurst LLP}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox law firm | name = Ashurst LLP | logo = Ashurst-logo.JPG | num_offices = 32 | num_lawyers= 1,700+ | num_employees = 3,500+ | key_people={{ubl| Karen Davies|(Chairman)|Paul Jenkins|(Global Chief Executive Officer)}} | practice_areas= General practice | date_founded = {{ubl|1822 |(1841, [[Melbourne]])}} | company_type = LLP | homepage = [http://www.ashurst.com/ www.ashurst.com] |headquarters=Sydney, Australia}}
'''Ashurst Australia''' is the [[Australia]]n branch of [[Ashurst LLP]], an international [[commercial law]] firm. The Australian headquarters of Ashurst are in [[Sydney]].
Prior to its acquisition by Ashurst, the Australian firm was named '''Blake Dawson''',<ref name="merritt1">{{cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mergers-acquisitions/blake-dawson-plans-uk-alliance-to-go-for-growth/story-fn91vdzj-1226147339729 | first=Chris | last=Merritt | title=Blake Dawson plans UK alliance to go for growth | date=27 September 2011 | work=The Australian}}</ref> one of the ''[[Big Six (law firms)|Big Six]]'' leading Australian [[law firms]].<ref name=SMH2007>{{Citation |author=Kenneth Nguyen|publication-date=22 May 2007|title=Stags in Slater & Gordon share some class action - a 40% win|type=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=John Fairfax Holdings Limited.|page=21|quote=Though Slater & Gordon is a well-known law firm, its market capitalisation of $151 million would be dwarfed if any of Australia's "big six" law firms - Allens Arthur Robinson, Blake Dawson Waldron, Clayton Utz, Freehills, Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Minter Ellison - decided to float.|url=http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=SMH070522FA4V74C1A9G}}</ref>
== History ==
=== Australian predecessor === Blake Dawson was founded in 1841. Its founder, [[James Hunter Ross]], emigrated from Scotland to set up practice in [[Melbourne]] on the corner of [[Bourke Street|Bourke]] and [[William Street, Melbourne|William Streets]]. In 1865 its founder died, and the firm was renamed to Blake & Riggall in 1874. In 1881 a firm later to be known as Waldron & Dawson was founded on [[Pitt Street]] in [[Sydney]].<ref>[http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/features/8540-the-making-of-a-national-firm-blake-dawson The making of a national firm: Blake Dawson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203013448/http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/features/8540-the-making-of-a-national-firm-blake-dawson|date=3 February 2017}} Retrieved 25 January 2017.</ref>
In 2007 the firm was rebranded to Blake Dawson.<ref name="lw">{{Cite web |url=http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/articles/Blake-Dawson-changes-its-stripes_z136778.htm |title = Blake Dawson changes its stripes |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070705133352/http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/articles/Blake-Dawson-changes-its-stripes_z136778.htm |archive-date=5 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Acquisition === In September 2011, it was announced that the firm would combine its Asian business with that of British law firm [[Ashurst (law firm)|Ashurst]] and be re-branded as Ashurst across all offices on 1 March 2012, followed by a full financial merger of the two firms on 1 November 2013.<ref>Blake Dawson (2011). [http://www.blakedawson.com/Templates/News/x_news_content_page.aspx?id=63781 Ashurst and Blake Dawson announce Asia business combination and future merger plans]. Retrieved 26 September 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.ashurst.com/media-item.aspx?id_Content=9601 ''Ashurst's partners vote for full financial integration'']. Ashurst, 26 September 2013.</ref> The table below summarises the merger of the two firms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://au.legalbusinessonline.com/news/ashurst-and-blakes-confirm-merger/107346 |title=Ashurst & Blakes confirm merger |publisher=Au.legalbusinessonline.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-22}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- ! ! Ashurst LLP ! Blake Dawson |- | Number of partners | 230 | 192 |- | Number of lawyers | 900+ | 820+ |- | Number of offices | 16 | 11 |- | Revenue (2011) | A$462 million + | A$380 million + |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.ashurst.com/ Ashurst website]
{{Big Six Australian law firms}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Law firms of Australia]] [[Category:Law firms established in 1841]] [[Category:1841 establishments in Australia]]