© 2013 The Texas Lawbook.
By Mark Curriden, JD
Senior Writer for The Texas Lawbook
(October 28) – Lawyers who have recently departed Patton Boggs say that the Washington, D.C.-based law firm is in merger discussions with Texas-based Locke Lord, according to multiple media reports.
Reuters cited two unidentified former Patton Boggs partners as confirming that their former firm is aggressively seeking another law firm with which to join forces and that Locke Lord, which has about 650 lawyers – most of them in Dallas and Houston – is a leading suitor.
The Washington Post, citing a third source, confirmed that such merger talks are underway.
Legal insiders told The Texas Lawbook that Locke Lord’s interest in such a merger is the talent in Patton Boggs’ Washington, D.C. office, which represents AT&T, Karl Rove and disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong.
While Patton Boggs has a more prominent national reputation, Locke Lord has a significant edge in total revenues and profits-per-partners, according to the American Lawyer.
A spokesman for Patton Boggs, which has about 500 lawyers firm wide, including more than 50 in Dallas, released a statement to The Texas Lawbook that said the firm doesn’t “discuss rumors or speculation.”
“All firms that recognize the rapidly changing landscape for the legal profession should be looking for ways to improve their platform for their partners and to better serve their clients, and Patton Boggs is no different,” the statement said. “We are constantly evaluating ways to improve our platform and the way that we provide legal services. If we find a combination that accomplishes these goals, we would have an announcement if and when we pursue it.”
Locke Lord, in a statement released to Reuters, said that the firm “never affirms or denies any speculation about . . . potential mergers.”
“In line with our strategic plan, we regularly look at growth opportunities that would benefit our firm and our clients, but we do not comment one way or the other,” according to the Locke Lord statement.
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