Partners identify key emerging markets and vote to roll out Eversheds as sole brand for foreign network

Eversheds is reviewing its presence in a number of jurisdictions and taking a closer look at emerging markets under proposals outlined at the firm's partnership conference.

At the conference, which took place in London last month (20 May), China, India, Russia and Latin America were highlighted as priority jurisdictions for the firm.

The countries were selected by a partner vote to determine which areas had the most client demand.

The firm has taken a number of steps to boost its presence in the emerging markets, including sending corporate partner David Levin on a six-month secondment to Russian firm Monastyrsky Zyuba Stepanov & Partners earlier this year.

The firm's partnership also took a vote on the name of some of its international offices, electing to drop local names from Eversheds International offices, where permitted.

This would affect offices such as Spain, where the firm is currently known as Eversheds Lupicinio, and Ireland, which operates as Eversheds O'Donnell Sweeney. Other jurisdictions affected could include Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Estonia, Latvia and Slovakia.

Eversheds chief executive Bryan Hughes (pictured) commented: "There is a clear mandate from interested parties that this is something that they would like to happen, but people appreciate that rebranding as Eversheds cannot be done overnight."

The firm is currently locked in an ongoing dispute with the Law Society of South Africa, after Eversheds' South African ally, Routledge Modise, ditched its local name and rebranded as Eversheds last year.

Other matters discussed during the conference included opportunities arising from the Legal Services Act, including alternative business structures, which allow for outside investment into firms.

Hughes added: "After coming through a difficult 18 months, we feel positive and are ready to draw a line in the sand and move on."