Husch Blackwell logo courtesy of KansasCity.com
Summary: Whyte Hischboeck Dudek has announced a merger with Husch Blackwell.
Milwaukee law firm, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, announced on Friday that it is combining with Kansas City’s, Husch Blackwell. According to the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, the two firms’ new name will be Husch Blackwell.
The newly formed Husch Blackwell will have more than 700 lawyers dispersed throughout 19 cities. The enterprise is reported to have approximately $346 million in annual revenue, making it one of The American Journal’s top 100 grossing firms. According to LawCrossing, Whyte Hischboeck Dudek has represented top companies such as Liberty Mutual insurance and Wal-Mart and Husch Blackwell has represented Gap, ConAgra Foods, Kohl’s, and many other major corporations.
According to LawCrossing, “Today [Husch Blackwell] is heavily involved in matters pertaining to energy, business litigation, health, and banking and finance.”
Paul Eberle of Whyte Hischboeck Dudek said their staff and offices will stay in the same place, 555 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee. He said their leadership and rates will also stay the same.
Eberle said his law firm had been entertaining the idea of a merger for a few years now. Discussions with Husch Blackwell started in November, and Whyte Hischboeck Dudek picked Husch Blackwell out of a candidate pool of thirty because of culture fit.
Back in October, we reported that 2015 was a busy year for law firm merger and acquisitions. Legal consultancy firm Altman Weil said the rate was higher than any other time, and that many firms find acquiring other, smaller practices was easier than conducting lateral hiring. The firm also saw an explosion in Midwest mergers.
Source: Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel