As predicted by oracles at the Hildebrandt Institute last year, the spate of law firm mergers that began in 2011 already have continued in the new calendar year.
Washington, D.C.-based McKenna Long & Aldridge and San Diego-based Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps announced yesterday that the firms will tie the knot as of March 1. The merger is intended to enhance the firms’ litigation, real estate, insurance, government contracts, government affairs and corporate law practices.
The combined firm will retain the McKenna Long & Aldridge moniker, and employ more than 600 attorneys and public policy advisors in 15 offices across the U.S. and abroad. The firms say that once joined, it will rank among the 80 largest firms in the U.S., and the 20 largest firms in California.
“We took a long look at ways to better meet the growing needs of our clients on the West Coast,” McKenna Long Chair Jeff Haidet said in a release. “The market for legal and regulatory work in California is growing, and Luce Forward’s statewide platform represented a perfect fit for our firm. MLA and Luce Forward share similar values and cultures, and are fully committed to delivering innovative solutions to our clients. Combining with Luce Forward is part of our common strategic vision to pursue growth opportunities in our clients’ industries, to strengthen our core practice areas, and to further extend our culture of collaboration to our client relationships.”
Furthering the Hildebrandt Institute’s proclamation, at least one other major merger has taken place so far this year. Canadian firm Macleod Dixon and the Canadian branch of global firm Norton Rose announced an expected merger on January 1.
The new entity, Norton Rose Canada, employs more than 700 lawyers and now ranks among the three largest firms in Canada.
“Norton Rose Canada can serve clients in new ways with a broader international reach and unmatched strength in key business sectors,” Managing Partner John Coleman said in a statement. “With offices in Latin America and as a market leader in Calgary and western Canada, we are a new Canadian powerhouse.”
