Summary: Saul Ewing and Arnstein & Lehr have merged to form a 400 plus attorney law firm with offices in Illinois, Florida, and the Northeast.
Law firms are under increased scrutiny to lower their expenses while increasing their quality of work. The solution many law firms have found is to merge with other law firms, big and small. The latest firm to announce their plan to follow the trend is Saul Ewing. The Center City Philadelphia-based firm is moving forward with a merger with Arnstein & Lehr, a Chicago-based firm.
The new firm will be known as Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr and will have over 400 attorneys working from 15 offices in the Midwest, Northeast, and Florida. Saul Ewing has 262 attorneys while Arnstein & Lehr is bringing around 160 to the table. Their merger is one the largest announced so far this year for U.S. based law firms.
Combined managing partner Barry F. Levin said, “For many years, Saul Ewing looked for the right growth opportunity that would build on our special culture and passion for putting clients first. We immediately found that same client commitment with Arnstein & Lehr.”
Arnstein & Lehr had a similar regard. Former managing partner Jeffrey B. Shapiro said, “We are dedicated to being one of America’s great law firms. Our combined experience, depth of talent, and commitment to serve our clients as our No. 1 priority have come together to form an even more energized, ambitious and results-driven firm.”
The deal came quickly after only six months of talks before the announcement. The hint of a possible merger first broke the news in May with analysts praising the combination. The law firms have some shared clients and will be able to help each other expand market shares while molding geographic footprints that weren’t already overlapping.
Thornton Tomasetti General Counsel added, “Having two powerhouse firms like Saul Ewing and Arnstein & Lehr under one roof collaborating on our matters is a huge plus for us.” Willis Towers Watson’s General Counsel for North America, Andrew M. Wasserman added, “We have worked with the lawyers at Saul Ewing for over 20 years – they are true client advocates. With the continuing growth of our U.S. operations, we are excited about the expanded geographic footprint and enhanced capabilities that Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr now offers.”
Arnstein & Lehr has six offices – one in Chicago, one in Springfield and four in Florida. As one of the country’s oldest firms, they have developed a reputation for being well respected by clients and fellow firms. They will be able to add to Saul Ewing’s practice areas, including litigation, business and finance, bankruptcy, real estate, immigration, and foreign investment.
This is not the first merger for Saul Ewing. The firm has a number of smaller firms along the east coast due to these mergers. There was a merger in Baltimore with Weinberg & Green and one in Boston with Dionne & Gass. They have 11 offices, including Washington D.C., Boston, and Pittsburgh. They have a focus on higher education, life sciences, energy, and insurance.
The merger took effect on September 1.
Will there be any other big law firm mergers before the end of the year? Tell us your predictions in the comments below.
To learn about other recent law firm mergers, read these articles:
- Kennedys Announces Merger with Carroll McNulty & Kull
- Eversheds Officially Mergers with Sutherland
- 2016 Was a Strong Year for Law Firm Mergers & Acquisitions
Photo: wikipedia.org