In a move shaking the global legal landscape, Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft announced Thursday plans to merge, forming a new powerhouse set to become the world’s fifth-largest law firm.

The combined entity, to be branded Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, is projected to generate more than $3.6 billion in annual revenue based on 2024 figures and will unite an estimated 3,100 attorneys under a single global banner.

Leadership and Structure

Under the new structure, Miguel Zaldivar, current CEO of Hogan Lovells, will lead the merged firm as CEO. Cadwalader’s co-managing partners Wes Misson and Pat Quinn will assume roles as global managing partner for finance and global managing partner for client and practice integration, respectively.

“This combination fulfills our shared ambition to create a global firm with a strong transatlantic platform anchored in the most important financial centers around the world,” said Misson in a statement. “Our clients are at the center of this strategic decision, as this combination will enhance our ability to provide best-in-class service at scale.”

A Strategic Global Play

The merger is designed to create a seamless transatlantic presence, leveraging the strengths of both firms to better serve a global clientele. Legal analysts say the move mirrors trends of consolidation in the industry, where scale and geographic reach increasingly define competitive advantage.

The creation of Hogan Lovells Cadwalader positions the new firm to compete with the world’s top-tier law practices, combining deep finance, litigation, and corporate capabilities across key markets in Europe, the U.S., and beyond.