Ashurst is a leading global law firm with world class capability and a prestigious international client base spanning corporates, financial institutions, and governments.
The firm’s established global platform is known for its strength in complex cross-border transactions and expertise in the energy and infrastructure, financial services, and real estate sectors, as well as its ability to serve clients seamlessly across markets.
Our story
We were founded in London in 1822 by William Henry Ashurst, a prominent anti-slavery campaigner. His commitment to leading the field and inspiring change has been the consistent thread through the firm’s evolution to today.
In the past two centuries, we have supported global companies driving change – advising industry leaders as they have navigated increasingly complex challenges and opportunities. Today, the companies we serve operate across borders and industries, and turn to us for our ability to help them anticipate and capture opportunity, driven by our deep expertise, agility, and technological leadership.
What sets us apart in the market is how we work with our clients. We bring together global teams across legal, risk consulting, and NewLaw to deliver a seamless service and provide the incisive advice clients need.
But what truly makes us unique is our people: their passion for quality, ability to think differently, and commitment to delivering through collaboration.
Areas of expertise
Cross-border M&A and Complex Transactions
Leading counsel on multijurisdictional M&A and financing.
Financial Services
Leading capabilities across regulatory, transactions, and disputes.
Energy and Infrastructure
Trusted advisor to global projects across all phases.
Ashurst in numbers
Recognized Excellence
Chambers Global recognized lawyers,
with 10 ranked Band 1, 2025
147
Best Lawyers® ranked attorneys,
with 17 being recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” 2024
184
FT Innovative Lawyers APAC
Financial Times recognized as “Most Innovative Law Firm in Asia-Pacific (Headquartered outside APAC),” 2024 & 2025
Partners
520
Offices
30
Countries
18
Words from our leadership
“Our ambition for many years has been to grow in the U.S. with the right partner: a firm with deep, trusted expertise that complements our own.
We have now found that partner – Perkins Coie is an ambitious, forward-thinking law firm meeting its clients at the forefront of technological change. At a time of rapid transformation and strategic complexity, we are excited by this unique opportunity to launch a truly differentiated global law firm for our clients and our people.
With Ashurst's established global presence and sector expertise, and both firms’ reputations for challenging the status quo, I am confident Ashurst Perkins Coie will be a leading advisor across the key industries – technology, energy and infrastructure, and financial services – which are shaping the future of the global economy.”
Paul Jenkins
Global CEO, Ashurst
"As clients face more complex, global issues, the demand for truly integrated legal solutions has never been greater. This combination positions us to meet this demand head-on. Clients want us to think and act globally, and uniting with Perkins Coie, a firm that shares our values and collaborative culture, to create a firm with an even greater breadth of capabilities and deeper client relationships, is exciting.
Beyond our complementary capabilities and geographies, we have both grown largely organically and are proud of the histories of our two firms, our unique geographic roots, and our likeminded cultures and people. We are a truly global firm that has guided our clients through generational change, risk, and opportunity. This combination allows us to bring the best of both firms to every matter, significantly strengthening our ability to meet our combined clients' needs on a global scale, and creating new opportunities for our people."
Karen Davies
Global Chair, Ashurst
FAQs
Your questions, answered.
Why did Ashurst select Perkins Coie as a partner?
U.S. expansion has long been a strategic priority for Ashurst, but we were looking for a partner with more than just a U.S. footprint – one with strengths distinct from our own, shared ambitions, and clear cultural compatibility. In Perkins Coie, we found that match.
Perkins Coie’s leading technology sector capability and deep corporate, litigation, and intellectual property expertise complements our global presence and strength in energy & infrastructure, financial services, and real estate.
Equally, Perkins Coie shares our culture defined by ingenuity, collaboration, and a willingness to challenge convention, making it an ideal partner for building a forward-looking, values-driven global firm.
Ashurst-specific questions
How will this combination deliver greater value to Ashurst’s clients?
This combination brings together two growing, elite firms of similar scale with highly complementary geographic footprints, capabilities, and cultures.
As Ashurst Perkins Coie, our greater global reach and expanded expertise means we will have the ability to do even more to help our clients solve their most pressing challenges with confidence, including access to deeper capabilities and new insights in key markets.
Ashurst Perkins Coie’s combined resources will also allow us to accelerate investments in both AI and top talent—enhancing our ability to deliver even greater insight, quality, and efficiency for our clients.
Ashurst-specific questions
The press release highlights Ashurst Perkins Coie's focus on technology, energy and infrastructure, and financial services. What does this mean for clients in other sectors?
While those identified sectors will be important to the combined firm, each of the sectors in which we operate will remain fundamental to our success, and a significant strategic focus for us moving forward.
The combined firm
How will this combination affect current Ashurst clients?
We expect to close on this combination in Q3 of 2026, subject to a partner vote at both firms and other customary conditions to closing. Until then, both firms will continue to operate independently.
Pre- and post-close, clients can expect the same personalized, relationship-driven service for which we have always been known, and as Ashurst Perkins Coie, we will be able to provide clients with deeper capabilities and new insights in key markets.
Ashurst-specific questions
