2 sets of BigLaw firms confirm merger talks
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If merger talks are successful between two sets of BigLaw firms, there will be two new entrants on the American Lawyer’s list of the nation’s 50 top law firms.
Troutman Sanders based in Atlanta and Pepper Hamilton based in Philadelphia confirmed Wednesday that they are in merger talks, Law.com reports here and here. If the merger takes place, the combined firm would have more than 1,000 lawyers and nearly 300 equity partners.
Also on Wednesday, Minneapolis-based Faegre Baker Daniels and Philadelphia-based Drinker Biddle & Reath confirmed that they are discussing a merger, Law.com reports in a separate story. The combined firm would have nearly 1,200 lawyers and more than 400 equity partners.
Law.com checked internet domain names for clues on possible names for the combined firms.
Newly created domain names are TroutmanPepper.com, TroutmanPepperSanders.com and FaegreDrinker.com.
Law.com points out that Drinker Biddle has had some significant departures recently. Groups that left for other law firms included a 14-lawyer life insurance and annuities group, a five-partner class-action defense practice and an eight-partner insurance transactions practice.
Drinker Biddle added lawyers, however, when 17 litigators joined the firm from Carlton Fields.
