Solos/Small Firms

Troutman Lawyers Leave ‘Aircraft Carrier’ to Form Boutique Firm

  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

Lawyer John Mercer says the new six-lawyer Atlanta boutique firm he is establishing will be more like the old Troutman Sanders he joined 31 years ago.

Mercer is forming the firm Mercer Thompson with five other Troutman lawyers, according to the Fulton County Daily Report. The new law firm will handle financing, mergers and acquisitions, and development deals for utilities and power developers.

“I started practicing at Troutman when it was a relatively small firm in one city,” Mercer told the Daily Report. “There was more collegiality and personal relationships. We missed that.”

“Troutman is like an aircraft carrier,” Mercer told the publication. “We’ve decided to climb in a PT boat and go buzzing around.”

He added that his statement is not meant to be “an indictment of Troutman” and says the firm has done a better job than most of “preserving some of the old law firm values.”

The other name partner in the new firm is Richard “Chip” Thompson II. Also joining the firm are lawyers Jason Yost, John Lamberski, Tracey Thompson and Lori Jones.

Give us feedback, share a story tip or update, or report an error.