Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
An international law firm created in 2018 through the combination of Bryan Cave and Berwin Leighton Paisner.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, commonly known as BCLP, is an international law firm serving corporate, financial, real-estate, tax, disputes and risk-management clients. The modern firm was created in 2018 when St. Louis-based Bryan Cave combined with London-based Berwin Leighton Paisner. Although the combination brought together major US and UK practices, the firm identifies St. Louis, Missouri, as its headquarters and has operated as a globally integrated partnership with offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. The firm’s history reaches substantially further back than its 2018 formation. Bryan Cave was founded in St. Louis in 1873 and expanded through a series of office openings and combinations. Its development included a Chicago office in 2001, a combination with New York firm Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn & Berman, an office in Hamburg in 2007, a 2008 merger with Atlanta-based Powell Goldstein, and a 2012 merger with Denver firm Holme Roberts & Owen. These transactions broadened Bryan Cave’s geographic coverage and strengthened its corporate, litigation and transactional capabilities. Berwin Leighton Paisner was itself formed in 2001 through the merger of Paisner & Co and Berwin Leighton, building practices in real estate, finance, litigation, corporate risk, private wealth and tax. Its international development included the addition of lawyers in Moscow in 2009, where operations traded under the Goltsblat BLP name. At formation, BCLP positioned itself as a full-service firm with particular emphasis on real estate, tax, finance, corporate work, litigation and corporate risk, and transactions. Its client work has included mergers and acquisitions, financing, property development and investment, commercial disputes, investigations, regulatory matters, intellectual property and tax advice. The firm has also represented clients in substantial transactions, including Ralcorp’s 2007 merger involving Kraft Foods’ Post cereal portfolio and Monsanto’s 2008 acquisition of sugarcane biotechnology businesses from Votorantim Group interests. Leadership and geographic strategy have continued to evolve. Lisa Mayhew and Therese Pritchard were announced as co-chairs when the two legacy firms combined. Pritchard stepped down in 2019 and Steve Baumer became her replacement. In 2023, BCLP moved to a single global leadership structure, with Baumer elected global chief executive officer. The firm also expanded its intellectual-property capability when Jeff Haidet joined from Dentons with a group of lawyers, and it absorbed Seattle firm Harrigan Leyh Farmer & Thomsen in 2024. BCLP’s international footprint has not expanded uniformly. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the firm closed its roughly 200-person Moscow office in 2022. In 2024 it announced a formal transition away from the full Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner name toward BCLP. In 2025 it opened offices in Riyadh and Al Khobar while announcing plans to withdraw from Asia through the closure of its Hong Kong and Singapore offices. These moves reflect a continuing effort to concentrate resources in selected markets while preserving a broad international offering.
History
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner combines the histories of two substantial law firms. Bryan Cave originated in St. Louis in 1873 and developed from a regional US practice into an international firm through organic growth, office openings and mergers. It opened in Chicago in 2001 and soon afterward combined with New York-based Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn & Berman. The firm later opened in Hamburg in 2007 and expanded its US platform through a 2008 merger with Atlanta-based Powell Goldstein. The Powell Goldstein name was retained in Atlanta for only a limited period. In 2012, Bryan Cave merged with Denver-based Holme Roberts & Owen, adding more than 210 lawyers and further strengthening its national reach. Bryan Cave also experienced changes in its Middle Eastern network, losing its Riyadh and Dubai offices to Fulbright & Jaworski in 2005 while retaining its Kuwait office. The second predecessor, Berwin Leighton Paisner, was formed in 2001 when Paisner & Co merged with Berwin Leighton. It became known for work in real estate, finance, litigation, corporate risk, private wealth and tax. Its international network expanded in 2009 when approximately 70 lawyers in Moscow joined the firm. Russian operations traded under the name Goltsblat BLP. In 2018, partners of Bryan Cave and Berwin Leighton Paisner voted to combine. The resulting firm adopted the name Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and presented itself as an integrated international practice rather than simply a loose alliance of two legacy firms. Lisa Mayhew and Therese Pritchard were announced as co-chairs. Pritchard left the co-chair role in 2019, and Steve Baumer was elected as her successor. The firm’s stated core areas include real estate, tax, finance, corporate work, litigation and corporate risk, and transactions. The post-merger period included both expansion and retrenchment. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, BCLP closed its Moscow office in 2022. In 2023, the firm changed its leadership model, replacing the co-chair arrangement with a single global structure and electing Baumer as global chief executive officer. That year Jeff Haidet joined from Dentons with 15 intellectual-property lawyers, strengthening a specialist practice. In 2024, BCLP absorbed Seattle firm Harrigan Leyh Farmer & Thomsen and completed the formal transition from its long-form name to the BCLP brand. In 2025, it opened offices in Riyadh and Al Khobar while announcing the closure of its Hong Kong and Singapore offices and a withdrawal from Asia. The firm’s evolution therefore reflects a continuing balance between global coverage, focused regional investment and the integration of specialist legal practices.
- 2025
Saudi Arabian offices open and Asia withdrawal is announced
[1]BCLP opens in Riyadh and Al Khobar and announces plans to close its Hong Kong and Singapore offices.
- 2024
BCLP completes its formal brand transition
[1]The firm formally transitions from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner to the shorter BCLP name.
- 2024
Harrigan Leyh Farmer & Thomsen joins BCLP
[1]BCLP absorbs the Seattle firm Harrigan Leyh Farmer & Thomsen.
- 2023
Single global leadership structure begins
[1]Steve Baumer becomes global chief executive officer as BCLP replaces its co-chair arrangement with a single leadership structure.
- 2022
Moscow office closes
[1]BCLP closes its approximately 200-person Moscow office after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- 2018
Bryan Cave and Berwin Leighton Paisner combine
[1]Partners approve the combination that creates Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.
- 2012
Bryan Cave merges with Holme Roberts & Owen
[1]The combination with the Denver firm adds more than 210 lawyers and broadens Bryan Cave’s US platform.
- 2009
Berwin Leighton Paisner expands in Moscow
[1]Approximately 70 Moscow lawyers join the Berwin Leighton Paisner network, operating under the Goltsblat BLP name.
- 2008
Bryan Cave combines with Powell Goldstein
[1]The merger expands Bryan Cave’s US presence in Atlanta, Charlotte and Dallas.
- 2007
Bryan Cave opens in Hamburg
[1]The firm adds a German office, extending its European presence.
Products and positioning
A globally integrated, full-service commercial law firm with especially prominent practices in real estate, finance, corporate transactions, tax, litigation and corporate risk.
Legal practice
Real estate
BCLP advises investors, developers, lenders, landlords, tenants and public-sector participants on real-estate acquisitions, developments, financings, leasing and disputes. The practice is one of the firm’s stated areas of specialization and reflects the strong real-estate heritage of Berwin Leighton Paisner.
Legal practice
Corporate and transactions
The corporate and transactions practice advises businesses on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, reorganizations, commercial arrangements and other strategic transactions. Its work spans multiple sectors and jurisdictions through the firm’s international office network.
Legal practice
Finance
BCLP provides legal advice on lending, structured finance, real-estate finance and related financial arrangements. The practice supports borrowers, lenders, sponsors and other participants in domestic and cross-border transactions.
Legal practice
Litigation and corporate risk
The firm represents clients in commercial disputes and advises on investigations, regulatory exposure, contentious risk and other complex corporate matters. The offering combines dispute resolution with preventive and responsive risk-management advice.
Legal practice
Tax
BCLP advises on tax issues connected with corporate transactions, finance, real estate, investment structures and business operations. Tax is one of the firm’s core stated practice areas and is integrated with its transactional work.
Legal practice · 2023
Intellectual property
BCLP’s intellectual-property capability was strengthened in 2023 when Jeff Haidet joined from Dentons with 15 lawyers specializing in intellectual property. The practice advises on IP-related commercial and contentious matters.
Brand decisions
2025
Regional expansion in Saudi Arabia and withdrawal from AsiaStrategyBackground
BCLP reassessed its international footprint and selected markets for continued investment.
Action taken
The firm opened offices in Riyadh and Al Khobar while announcing plans to close its Hong Kong and Singapore offices.
Aftermath
The decision increased BCLP’s presence in Saudi Arabia while reducing its direct office network in Asia.
2024
Formal transition to the BCLP brandOtherBackground
The firm’s full name reflected the 2018 combination but was lengthy for everyday use.
Action taken
BCLP completed the formal transition from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner to the shorter BCLP identity.
Aftermath
The firm continued operating as an international law practice while simplifying its public-facing brand.
2023
Move to a single global leadership modelStrategyBackground
After operating with co-chairs following the 2018 combination, BCLP reorganized its senior leadership structure.
Action taken
Steve Baumer was elected global chief executive officer, replacing the co-chair model with a single global leadership structure.
Aftermath
The change concentrated global executive responsibility in one role and followed Baumer’s earlier service as co-chair.
2022
Closure of the Moscow officeStrategyBackground
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine created major legal, operational and reputational challenges for international firms operating in Russia.
Action taken
BCLP closed its approximately 200-person Moscow office.
Aftermath
The closure reduced the firm’s direct presence in Russia and formed part of its response to the changed geopolitical environment.
2018
Combination of Bryan Cave and Berwin Leighton PaisnerM&ABackground
Two established firms sought to create a broader international platform by combining Bryan Cave’s US base and Berwin Leighton Paisner’s UK and European capabilities.
Action taken
Partners voted to combine the firms under the Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner name, with Lisa Mayhew and Therese Pritchard announced as co-chairs.
Aftermath
The combination created an international full-service law firm with a stated focus on real estate, tax, finance, corporate work, litigation and corporate risk, and transactions.
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