Edwards Angell Talking with Wildman Harrold About Possible Merger
A Chicago law firm and Boston-based Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge have confirmed that they are discussing a possible merger.
If Edwards Angell and Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon tie the knot, that will add another 150 or so lawyers to the Edwards firm’s approximately 500-attorney roster, reports Crain’s Chicago Business.
Wildman Harrold had 224 attorneys in 2004, but has lost lawyers to a number of other firms—including Arnstein & Lehr and the Chicago office of Barnes & Thornburg—in recent months. It specializes in banking, real estate and securities work, all of which have been heard-hit by the recession.
“They no longer have a door; they have a turnstile there,” Jim Kilmer, a Chicago legal recruiter, tells Crain’s.
“Both of the legacy firms would bring complementary strengths and clients to a new enterprise,” the two firms said in a written statement provided to the Am Law Daily. “EAPD would offer an established corporate and IP platform to Wildman’s litigation clients, particularly in private equity and venture capital, life sciences, and insurance. In addition, EAPD would lend its formidable geographic scope in the US, UK and Asia.”
