In a bold move that marks a significant shift in the landscape of international law, Perkins Coie has announced a potential merger with global law firm Ashurst. Bill Malley, Managing Partner at Perkins Coie, recently addressed speculations linking this major business decision to the Trump administration's controversial executive order targeting the firm’s diversity and inclusion policies. Malley emphasized that the discussions between Perkins Coie and Ashurst predated the executive order, underscoring that the merger is driven by mutual financial strength and strategic alignment rather than political pressures.

“The timing of our talks with Ashurst and the subsequent merger decision were in no way influenced by external political events,” Malley stated during an interview with Law.com. He stressed that both firms are approaching this merger from a position of strength, with optimistic prospects for the future. This merger, pending approval from partners set to vote in 2026, is anticipated to be operational by mid-year, creating a new powerhouse in the legal sector.

This clarification comes after a federal judge deemed the Trump administration’s executive order unconstitutional, a decision that is currently under appeal. The executive order had singled out Perkins Coie among other top law firms for their diversity efforts, sparking a legal and public relations battle that has drawn significant attention within the legal community and beyond.

The proposed merger is expected to enhance the combined entities' capabilities across various legal disciplines, promoting a more extensive global reach and bolstering their competitive edge in a dynamic legal market. Industry observers are keenly watching how this partnership will influence the broader legal landscape, particularly in areas like corporate law, environmental law, and technological innovation.

As the legal community and market analysts continue to monitor these developments, the leadership at Perkins Coie remains focused on steering the firm towards growth and enhanced service delivery, independent of the political challenges that have recently come to the fore.