DLA Piper announced that partners across its U.S. and International entities have approved a closer global alignment under a single leadership team, a move designed to strengthen the firm’s competitive position and expand its ability to serve clients across markets.
The new structure will unify leadership under Global Chair and Co-CEO Frank Ryan and Global Co-CEO Charles Severs, supported by a broader leadership team that includes Vice Chairs John Gilluly and Loren Brown, Global Co-Managing Partners Sandra Wallace and Rick Chesley, and International Managing Director for Clients Benjamin Parameswaran.
The alignment builds on DLA Piper’s global scale, following $4.6 billion in revenue in 2025, and is aimed at enhancing coordination across practices and geographies while enabling greater investment in talent, technology, and client service capabilities.
Under the new structure, a global LLP will sit above the firm’s existing U.S. and International entities, which will continue to operate. The change will replace the current Swiss verein model and is expected to take effect on May 1, 2026.
DLA Piper indicated that the move will improve its ability to handle complex cross-border matters and respond to evolving market conditions, including increased regulatory complexity and rapid technological change.
The firm expects the transition to occur without disruption to client service, while positioning the organization for long-term growth and increased market share.
KEY QUOTES:
“DLA Piper is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate a landscape marked by the increasing complexity of doing business across borders, with less trade and regulatory certainty, and rapid technological disruption. This alignment strengthens our ability to invest in the lawyers, teams, and technologies that will reshape competition in major legal markets.”
Frank Ryan, Global Chair And Co-Chief Executive Officer, DLA Piper
“Today’s milestone marks the next step in two decades of successful collaboration between our US and International businesses. DLA Piper already advises clients on some of the market’s most complex local and cross-border issues, but our ambition is to bring the full strength of our platform to the market. This move reflects our shared confidence that DLA Piper can take market share when the firm operates with unified global focus and coordination.”
Charles Severs, Global Co-Chief Executive Officer, DLA Piper
