DLA Piper
A global law-firm network serving businesses, governments and institutions across more than 40 countries.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
DLA Piper is an international law-firm network headquartered in London and operating through offices and affiliated partnerships across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Australasia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It was created in 2005 through the combination of three established firms: the United Kingdom-based DLA, the Baltimore-based Piper Rudnick and the San Diego-based Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich. The transaction brought together firms with different geographic strengths and created one of the largest legal practices in the world by headcount and international reach. The firm's history draws on several older practices. DLA developed from the 1988 combination of Dibb Lupton and Broomhead & Neals and expanded in 1996 through a merger with Liverpool firm Alsop Wilkinson, becoming Dibb Lupton Alsop. In the United States, Piper & Marbury combined with Chicago firm Rudnick & Wolfe in 1999, creating Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe, which later became Piper Rudnick. These predecessor firms supplied the corporate, disputes, finance, public-sector and regulatory practices that became part of the 2005 combination. After its formation, DLA Piper pursued a strategy of international expansion through offices, alliances, local partnerships and combinations with established firms. It expanded in Latin America through offices and cooperative arrangements, including activity in Mexico and Brazil; in the Middle East through locations including Doha, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait; and in Europe and Asia through additional offices and local relationships. Its Australasian presence grew through the Phillips Fox relationship, which subsequently became DLA Piper Australia, while the New Zealand practice adopted the DLA Piper name in 2015. The network later added or developed practices in locations including Seoul, Indonesia, Namibia, Algeria, Puerto Rico, Dublin and other markets. DLA Piper advises companies, financial institutions, governments, public bodies and investors on commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, finance, capital markets, employment, intellectual property, technology, real estate, tax, competition, investigations, compliance, international trade, projects, energy and disputes. Its global structure is commonly described as a Swiss Verein: participating partnerships operate as separate legal entities while using common branding, management structures and cross-border capabilities. This model enables the organization to present a unified international platform while reflecting the professional-regulation requirements of individual jurisdictions. The firm also operates initiatives beyond fee-earning legal work. In 2005 it launched New Perimeter, an international pro bono program intended to provide legal assistance and institution-building support in underserved regions. It has also developed technology-related offerings, including TOKO, a blockchain-based tokenization platform launched in 2023 through its Aldersgate Digital Ledger Solutions group. DLA Piper has been associated with prominent political, governmental and public-policy figures as partners, advisers, former employees or consultants. Its public profile has also been shaped by litigation and controversy involving representations of clients, including its work for Paul Ceglia in litigation asserting an ownership interest in Facebook and a later fiduciary-duty lawsuit brought by former client Ferrellgas. The Ceglia-related litigation against the firm was dismissed, while the Ferrellgas matter was filed in 2020. In 2025, former United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron joined the firm as a consultant, according to the cited reference material.
History
DLA Piper's roots extend to legal practices in Britain and the United States. In the United Kingdom, Dibb Lupton Broomhead was created in 1988 through the merger of Dibb Lupton and Broomhead & Neals. Its subsequent combination with Liverpool firm Alsop Wilkinson in 1996 produced Dibb Lupton Alsop, commonly known as DLA. In the United States, Baltimore firm Piper & Marbury merged with Chicago firm Rudnick & Wolfe in 1999, creating Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe, later known as Piper Rudnick. Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, based in San Diego, was the third major participant in the later international combination. In 2005, DLA, Piper Rudnick and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich merged to form DLA Piper. The combination united substantial US and UK practices and was presented at the time as one of the largest law-firm mergers in history. The post-merger US entity initially used a longer name, but the brand was shortened to DLA Piper in 2006. Rather than operating as one globally incorporated partnership, the organization developed as a network of separate partnerships using a shared brand and coordination model commonly described as a Swiss Verein. The firm's first growth phase emphasized international coverage. It launched New Perimeter in 2005 as a pro bono initiative, opened or developed locations in Mexico, Brazil and the Middle East, and expanded in Australia through an exclusive alliance with Phillips Fox. The Middle Eastern network included Doha in 2006, Abu Dhabi in 2008 and a Kuwait joint venture with Al Wagayan, Al Awadhi & Al Saif. In the United States, the firm also strengthened sector practices, including energy work in Houston. During the 2010s, DLA Piper continued to build its international network through alliances, combinations and new offices. A cooperative agreement with Brazilian firm Campos Mello Advogados was announced in 2010. DLA Phillips Fox integrated with the network as DLA Piper Australia in 2011, and the New Zealand practice adopted the DLA Piper name in 2015. By 2012, the firm was reported to have more than 4,000 attorneys and had established a Paris presence through a relationship with Frieh Bouhenic. Expansion during 2013 and 2014 included Seoul, Indonesia, Namibia, Algeria and Mexico City. The firm opened in San Juan in 2016, while Portuguese firm ABBC and Danish firm LETT joined the network in 2017. A Dublin office followed in 2019. Leadership during this period included Simon Levine, who became managing partner, global co-chair and global co-CEO in 2014, and Frank Ryan, who assumed the Americas chair and global co-chair and co-CEO roles in 2021. Sir Nigel Knowles had previously served as managing partner and later global co-chairman, while former US Senator George Mitchell served as chairman before becoming chairman emeritus. DLA Piper's modern practice covers corporate transactions, finance, disputes, employment, intellectual property, technology, real estate, tax, competition, regulation, investigations, energy, infrastructure and public policy. Its clients include commercial businesses, financial institutions, governments and public bodies. In 2023, the firm expanded its technology proposition by launching TOKO, a blockchain-based tokenization platform developed through Aldersgate Digital Ledger Solutions. In 2025, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron joined as a consultant. The firm remains active internationally, with offices in more than 40 countries and a network of approximately 80 offices according to the cited reference material.
- 2023
TOKO launches
[1]DLA Piper introduces TOKO, a blockchain-based digital tokenization platform.
- 2017
ABBC and LETT join the network
[1]Portuguese firm ABBC and Danish firm LETT join DLA Piper.
- 2015
The New Zealand practice adopts the DLA Piper name
[1]The New Zealand arm of DLA Phillips Fox becomes DLA Piper New Zealand.
- 2011
DLA Piper Australia is created
[1]DLA Phillips Fox integrates into DLA Piper and adopts the Australian DLA Piper name.
- 2006
The brand becomes DLA Piper
[1]The longer post-merger US name is shortened to DLA Piper.
- 2005
DLA Piper is established
[1]DLA, Piper Rudnick and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich merge to create DLA Piper.
- 2005
New Perimeter is launched
[1]The firm launches an international pro bono program focused on underserved regions.
- 1999
Piper and Rudnick & Wolfe combine
[1]The US firms merge to form Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe, a predecessor of Piper Rudnick.
- 1996
DLA expands through the Alsop Wilkinson merger
[1]The merger with Liverpool-based Alsop Wilkinson creates Dibb Lupton Alsop.
- 1988
Dibb Lupton Broomhead is formed
[1]Dibb Lupton and Broomhead & Neals merge in the United Kingdom, creating an important predecessor of DLA.
Products and positioning
A broad, full-service international law-firm platform combining cross-border transactional, regulatory and disputes capabilities with local-market practices. Its Swiss Verein structure allows affiliated partnerships in different jurisdictions to share a global brand and network without becoming a single legal entity.
Corporate law
Corporate and commercial legal services
Advice for companies, investors and institutions on corporate governance, commercial contracts, joint ventures, strategic transactions and day-to-day business operations, often coordinated across multiple jurisdictions.
Transactional law
Mergers and acquisitions
Cross-border and domestic advice for acquisitions, disposals, mergers, private-equity transactions, reorganizations and related due diligence, negotiations, regulatory clearances and integration issues.
Disputes
Litigation and dispute resolution
Representation and strategic advice in commercial litigation, arbitration, investigations and other contentious matters, including disputes involving complex international facts and regulated industries.
Financial law
Finance and capital markets
Legal support for lenders, borrowers, issuers, investors and financial institutions in banking, structured finance, debt, equity, securities and capital-markets transactions.
Technology law
Technology and intellectual property
Counsel on technology transactions, intellectual property, data, digital regulation, outsourcing, cybersecurity and technology-enabled business models, supplemented by the firm's TOKO platform.
Pro bono legal services · 2005
New Perimeter
An international pro bono initiative providing legal assistance and capacity-building support in underserved regions and communities.
Digital-asset technology · 2023
TOKO
A blockchain-based platform for tokenization of assets and related digital-asset applications, launched through DLA Piper's Aldersgate Digital Ledger Solutions group.
Controversies
2020
Ferrellgas fiduciary-duty litigation
Former client Ferrellgas Partners filed an action alleging breach of fiduciary duty by DLA Piper. Squire Patton Boggs filed the case in Kansas on Ferrellgas's behalf.
2010
Ceglia-Facebook litigation
DLA Piper represented Paul Ceglia in litigation asserting that a contract entitled him to a large ownership interest in Facebook. The document underlying the claim was later found to be fraudulent. Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg sued DLA Piper and others, alleging that the lawyers knew or should have known the case was fraudulent; the action was later dismissed.
Marketing campaigns
- 2005New Perimeter
International
DLA Piper launched New Perimeter as a global pro bono initiative intended to extend legal assistance and institutional support to underserved regions.
Outcome. Ongoing international pro bono program
Brand decisions
2023
Launch TOKOProduct launchBackground
Clients and markets were developing blockchain-based asset and financial applications.
Action taken
DLA Piper launched TOKO through its Aldersgate Digital Ledger Solutions group as a tokenization platform.
Aftermath
The launch extended the firm's legal and advisory offering into digital-asset infrastructure.
2011
Integrate DLA Phillips Fox into DLA Piper AustraliaM&ABackground
DLA Piper was developing a larger Australasian presence through its relationship with Phillips Fox.
Action taken
The Australian practice integrated with DLA Piper and adopted the DLA Piper Australia name.
Aftermath
The integration strengthened the firm's branded presence in Australia.
2005
Combine three predecessor firms into DLA PiperM&ABackground
DLA, Piper Rudnick and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich sought to create a large international platform by combining their UK and US practices.
Action taken
The firms merged and began operating under the DLA Piper brand and network model.
Aftermath
The combination produced one of the world's largest law firms and supported subsequent geographic expansion.
Recent events
DLA Piper appoints Tumisang Mongae as a Johannesburg director[2]
DLA Piper appointed Tumisang Mongae as a director in its Johannesburg office, joining the Litigation & Regulatory practice on 1 September 2021.
Reported
Kinstellar acquires DLA Piper's Kyiv office[3]
Kinstellar acquired DLA Piper's office in Kyiv; the move marked DLA Piper's withdrawal from the Ukrainian market.
Reported
DLA Piper launches TOKO tokenization platform[4]
DLA Piper, collaborating with Aldersgate DLS, launched TOKO, a security token platform built on Hedera Hashgraph, Hyperledger Fabric, and Microsoft Azure.
Reported
DLA Piper launches international cannabis practice[5]
DLA Piper launched an international cannabis practice comprising more than 70 lawyers and support staff practising in more than 15 countries.
Reported
DLA Piper receives WILEF Gold Standard Certification[6]
DLA Piper announced that it received Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum, marking the seventh time it had received the certification.
Sources6 sources
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