Ashurst LLP
An international commercial law firm founded in London in 1822 and later combined with firms in Australia and the United States.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Ashurst LLP was an international commercial law firm headquartered in London. Founded in 1822 by William H. Ashurst, the firm developed from a British legal practice into a multinational organization serving companies, financial institutions, governments, investors and infrastructure owners. Its principal work centered on mergers and acquisitions, corporate transactions and structured finance, supported by practices covering investment funds, antitrust, energy, transport, infrastructure, intellectual property, information technology, dispute resolution, financial services, tax, real estate, regulatory matters, telecommunications and employment. The firm's historical identity was associated with Ashurst Morris Crisp, a name reflecting the development of the original practice and the recruitment of John Morris and Sir Frank Crisp during the nineteenth century. Its international expansion accelerated in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries as it built or acquired capabilities in major financial and commercial centers. By the time described in the reference material, Ashurst operated 30 offices in 18 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. A major step in the firm's international development occurred on 1 March 2012, when its Asian business combined with the Australian law firm Blake Dawson. Blake Dawson, previously one of Australia's large established firms, adopted the Ashurst name across its offices. The combination added offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Port Moresby, Shanghai and Sydney, and materially strengthened Ashurst's work in energy and resources, infrastructure and financial services. It also gave the firm a broader platform for cross-border transactions involving Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Ashurst's business model was that of a full-service commercial law firm rather than a consumer-facing legal brand. It advised on complex transactions, financing structures, contentious matters and regulatory issues, often combining lawyers from several jurisdictions and practice areas. Its client work included cross-border mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and finance, infrastructure development, energy projects, investment funds, real estate and major disputes. The firm was reported as ranking 55th among the world's 100 largest law firms by revenue and sixth among the largest United Kingdom law firms by revenue in the referenced material. No financial figure is included here because the available source does not provide a verifiable amount and reporting period. In November 2008, corporate partner Charlie Geffen was elected to succeed Geoffrey Green as senior partner, marking a leadership transition during the global financial crisis. On 17 November 2025, Ashurst announced a proposed combination with Seattle-headquartered Perkins Coie LLP. The transaction was described as creating a firm with approximately 3,000 attorneys. Following partner approval by both firms, the combination was completed in June 2026 and the resulting organization was named Ashurst Perkins Coie. Accordingly, Ashurst LLP is treated in this dossier as a defunct legal entity or predecessor brand after that combination, while the Ashurst name continued within the successor organization.
History
Ashurst traces its origins to London in 1822, when William H. Ashurst established the practice that eventually became the international law firm Ashurst LLP. During the nineteenth century, John Morris and Sir Frank Crisp joined the firm, contributing to the development of the practice that became known as Ashurst Morris Crisp. The firm subsequently evolved from a British legal partnership into a multinational commercial law organization. Its work broadened beyond traditional domestic legal services as commercial clients increasingly required advice across jurisdictions. Ashurst developed capabilities in corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, finance, disputes and a wide range of regulated and asset-intensive industries. Its practice portfolio came to include investment funds, antitrust, energy, transport, infrastructure, intellectual property, information technology, financial services, tax, real estate, telecommunications and employment. The firm's international growth was particularly significant in the Asia-Pacific region. On 1 March 2012, Ashurst combined its Asian business with the Australian firm Blake Dawson. Blake Dawson had been one of Australia's major law firms and adopted the Ashurst brand after the combination. The transaction expanded Ashurst's office network to Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Port Moresby, Shanghai and Sydney, among other locations. It also strengthened the firm's ability to handle energy and resources, infrastructure and financial services mandates involving Australia and Asian markets. Leadership changed during the global financial crisis. In November 2008, Ashurst's partners elected corporate partner Charlie Geffen to succeed Geoffrey Green as senior partner. The transition occurred while law firms and their clients were dealing with severe disruption in financial markets, increasing demand for restructuring, finance, regulatory and contentious advice. At its later international scale, Ashurst was described as having 30 offices in 18 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Its core commercial focus remained mergers and acquisitions, corporate work and structured finance, although its full-service model enabled it to advise on related disputes, projects, regulation, real estate, tax, employment and technology matters. The firm was reported as 55th among the world's 100 largest law firms by revenue and sixth among the largest United Kingdom law firms by revenue. The available reference does not provide a dated revenue amount, so no financial figure is recorded in this dossier. On 17 November 2025, Ashurst announced a proposed combination with Perkins Coie LLP, a law firm headquartered in Seattle in the United States. The proposed organization was described as having approximately 3,000 attorneys. After partner approval by both firms, the transaction was completed in June 2026, creating Ashurst Perkins Coie. This combination marks the endpoint of Ashurst LLP as a standalone legal entity in the supplied historical account, although the Ashurst name continued as part of the successor firm's identity.
- 2026
Ashurst Perkins Coie formed
[1]The combination with Perkins Coie was completed in June 2026, creating Ashurst Perkins Coie.
- 2025
Perkins Coie combination announced
[1]Ashurst announced a proposed combination with United States-based Perkins Coie LLP.
- 2012
Combination with Blake Dawson
[1]Ashurst combined its Asian business with Blake Dawson, which adopted the Ashurst name and added offices across Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
- 2008
Senior-partner transition
[1]Charlie Geffen was elected to succeed Geoffrey Green as senior partner.
- 1860
Morris and Crisp join the firm
[1]John Morris and Sir Frank Crisp were recruited during the nineteenth century, contributing to the firm's historical Ashurst Morris Crisp identity.
- 1822
Practice founded in London
[1]William H. Ashurst founded the legal practice that later developed into Ashurst.
Products and positioning
A full-service international commercial law firm focused on complex cross-border transactions, finance, disputes, infrastructure, energy and regulated industries.
Corporate legal services
Mergers and acquisitions
Ashurst's corporate practice advised companies, investors and other institutions on domestic and cross-border acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and related governance matters. The practice formed part of the firm's principal business focus and was closely connected with its sector teams in energy, infrastructure, financial services, real estate and technology.
Financial legal services
Corporate and structured finance
The firm provided legal advice on corporate finance and structured financing transactions. Its work covered complex funding arrangements and transactions involving financial institutions, corporates, investors and infrastructure or energy assets, supported by its broader banking, capital markets and regulatory capabilities.
Projects and energy law · 2012
Infrastructure and energy projects
Ashurst advised on infrastructure, transport, energy and resources matters. The Blake Dawson combination materially strengthened this area by expanding the firm's Australian and Asia-Pacific presence and adding resources in sectors involving large assets, public-private arrangements, project finance and regulated operations.
Litigation and arbitration
Dispute resolution
The firm's dispute-resolution practice handled commercial conflicts and other contentious matters for corporate and institutional clients. It operated alongside the firm's transactional practices, allowing clients to obtain advice on disputes involving finance, infrastructure, corporate transactions, regulation, real estate and other commercial activities.
Regulatory legal services
Financial services and regulatory advice
Ashurst advised financial institutions and other regulated businesses on financial-services law, regulatory obligations and related transactions. This offering complemented the firm's finance, investment funds, tax, corporate and disputes practices.
Brand decisions
2025
Announce combination with Perkins CoieM&ABackground
Ashurst pursued a larger transatlantic platform through a combination with Seattle-headquartered Perkins Coie LLP.
Action taken
On 17 November 2025, Ashurst announced the proposed combination, which was described as creating a firm with approximately 3,000 attorneys.
Aftermath
The partners of both firms later approved the transaction, which was completed in June 2026 as Ashurst Perkins Coie.
2012
Combine with Blake DawsonM&ABackground
Ashurst sought to expand its international platform and strengthen its Asia-Pacific capabilities in energy, resources, infrastructure and financial services.
Action taken
On 1 March 2012, Ashurst combined its Asian business with Australian firm Blake Dawson, which adopted the Ashurst name across its offices.
Aftermath
The combination added offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Port Moresby, Shanghai and Sydney and significantly broadened the firm's regional resources.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Ashurst sponsors Sydney FinTech Summit[3]
Ashurst sponsored the one-day 8th Annual FinTech Summit at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney.
Ashurst partners with Cognia Law and Elevate[4]
Reported:
Ashurst said it was enhancing its Ashurst Advance business through a partnership with flexible lawyering firms Cognia Law and Elevate. The enhanced service was planned to launch initially in Australia and the UK, with a global rollout intended later.
Sources4 sources
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