The following is an excerpt from Gene Commander’s recent article in Attorney at Work, which explores how in today’s rapidly changing legal industry, law firms big and small should consider talent-driven mergers as part of a smart growth talent strategy. The full article can be read here.
The legal industry has been abuzz with news of major law firm mergers, such as the Q1 2025 unions of Troutman Pepper with Locke Lorde; Womble Bond Dickinson with Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie; Ballard Spahr with Lane Powell; and Taft Stettinius & Hollister with Sherman & Howard. While mergers between global giants may grab headlines, midmarket and smaller firms are also getting in on the action.
According to Fairfax Associates, nearly all domestic law firm mergers in 2024 involved at least one firm with 100 lawyers or fewer. And 69% of mergers involved at least one firm that employed just five to 20 lawyers. As they compete for a dwindling supply of productive talent and the advent of AI amplifies the need for highly skilled lawyers, law firms of all sizes should consider joining forces with other like-minded firms to meet their talent needs.