Withers is merging with New York firm Bergman Horowitz & Reynolds, forming a transatlantic private client powerhouse.

The firms, which both specialise in private client work, will officially merge on 1 January 2002.

The merged firm will retain the Withers names internationally with the exception of the US where it will be known as Withers Bergman.

Withers partner Margaret Robertson and Bergman partner Bill Swift will become joint managing directors of the merged practice, which will have a nine-strong management board.

Withers senior partner Diana Parker will remain as head of the merged firm.

At the same time, Withers is hiring a partner from US firm Bryan Cave, Joe Field, to head the new post of European head of private client.

The merger will create a 70-partner firm with offices in the US and Europe. Withers currently has 50 partners and offices in London and Milan.

"A significant proportion of our clients are now global citizens with links all over the world. Such people want their affairs to be handled with the same commercialism that they encounter in other fields of business, they want one point of contact where their diverse multi-jurisdictional needs can be met," said Diana Parker, senior partner of Withers.

The surprise deal makes Withers only the fourth City firm to merge with a sizeable US practice and only the second to take-over a smaller US practice, following Clifford Chance's merger last year with Rogers & Wells.

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