Law Firms Orrick and Akin Gump End Merger Talks
Law Firm News
The big law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has seen its share of merger discussions fizzle out in recent years. Add its talks with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to the list.
Less than a week after confirming that they were in preliminary discussions to merge, Orrick and Akin Gump released a joint statement Monday morning announcing that their brief flirtation has already petered out. The decision to end their talks was described as a mutual one.
“The firms appreciated the opportunity to have the discussions, which confirmed their mutual respect for one another,” the statement said. “However, the firms have determined not to proceed.”
Last week, consultants who specialize in law-firm mergers described the fit between Orrick and Akin Gump as a good one, considering they did not overlap much in terms of offices or strong practice areas. Together, the firms would have employed nearly 1,900 lawyers with combined revenues in excess of $1.5 billion.
But the breakdown in talks is not particularly surprising, given how delicate merger discussions between big law firms tend to be. As The American Lawyer has pointed out, Orrick is something of a model for aborted merger talks, with its unsuccessful deal with what was then Dewey Ballantine in 2007 standing out as the most notable example.
Related listings
-
Reed Smith considering merger with Texas firm
Law Firm News 10/04/2010Pittsburgh-based Reed Smith, which has 150 lawyers in Philadelphia, is in early merger discussions with Dallas-based law firm Thompson & Knight, both firms confirmed Friday to the Pittsburgh Business Times."We are in preliminary merger discussion...
-
Armstrong Teasdale Joins AmerenUE’s Pure Power Program
Law Firm News 09/30/2010Armstrong Teasdale LLP is supporting the development of new renewable energy sources by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through AmerenUE’s Pure Power program.Armstrong Teasdale’s commitment to this voluntary program will help prevent ...
-
Law firms Orrick, Akin Gump consider union
Law Firm News 09/29/2010Law firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is in merger talks with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.Representatives from both firms characterized the talks as “preliminary.”A deal would result in a unified law firm with about 1,740 attorney...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.