Three old-line Texas corporate law firms – Gardere, Andrews Kurth, and Strasburger & Price - each merged with a larger national law firm in April 2018. Fifteen months later, leaders at all three say their marriages have gone better than they expected.

Kent Zimmermann is one of the leading strategy advisors to law firms in the United States. Last year, he advised on each of the three largest law firm mergers to close worldwide. He is currently advising multiple firms on active merger discussions, and he is also advising three Am Law 25 firms on firmwide strategy.  Here Kent offers some perspective on legal trends and the challenges and changes facing law firm chairs and managing partners.

A summary of findings from Zeughauser Group's survey of Boston law firms, focusing on the potential for mergers and combinations, likely growth areas and geographies, and future priorities and challenges.  Survey respondents were exclusively managing partners and other senior leaders of Boston law
firms ranging in size from approximately 10 to 200 attorneys. 

For more information about this survey, contact Kent Zimmermann at zimmermann@consultzg.com or (312) 810-8008.

Kirkland’s revenue was $3.17 billion last year, thanks largely to the firm's focus on its work in the area.  Peter Zeughauser comments on the firm's strategy for expansion and growth.

Zeughauser Group's 2018 Pocket Guide to the American Lawyer Rankings of the Am Law 200 by Profits Per Equity Partner and by Value Per Lawyer; The A-List; The Global 100; and The Corporate Scorecard.

You can download the ZGuide here

If you would like a hard copy of the 2018 ZGuide, please send an email to zgadmin@consultzg.com with "2018 ZGuide Request" in the subject line and provide your mailing address.

When is a law firm merger not a merger? In demanding millions of dollars from Blank Rome, former Dickstein Shapiro partners may help drum up answers. Mary K Young comments on the advantages of some types of combinations.

An increasing number of law firm leaders have concluded that they need to grow high quality headcount in their areas of focus to remain competitive. Many have chosen to consider all potential options for achieving growth. This includes recruiting laterals, small groups, or combinations. Many firms choose to put all three options on the table. Strategic planning helps law firms choose among their options. Mary K Young and Kent Zimmermann discuss in The American Lawyer.

Certain Midwest and second-tier markets, in terms of population, have garnered interest from large law firms, especially those that serve middle-market clients.  Mary K Young comments on the expansion of firms in the secondary and tertiary markets.

A new survey finds that 82 percent of Texas law firm leaders have been approached over the last year about a potential combination, and 32 percent say they are open to considering it.

"Law firms have been setting up shop and expanding operations in Texas at a frenzied pace—the result of a strong Texas economy, the lure of the state’s high-profile energy sector, and the rainmaking opportunities that exist as the state adds to its long list of corporate headquarters." Kent Zimmermann comments in the Texas Lawyer piece by Brenda Sapino Jeffreys.