The Closer: A Q&A with Matthew Levy of Faegre Drinker
Find out how he became involved in M&A work, what advice he has for aspiring M&A attorneys, and what sectors he thinks are heating up and cooling down in M&A this year.
Mergers
-
Taft looks for more mergers as it closes Denver deal
Experts say the move reflects a national trend of increasing client demand for deep legal specialists who often can only be acquired through mergers.
Read More -
A year of growth: Law firm mergers saw an increase in 2023
While overall M&A activity saw a decline in 2023, recent data suggest law firm mergers actually saw an increase last year.
Read More -
Cultural cohesion: As law firms combine, they retain talent by making sure cultures fit
Law offices are paying very close attention to culture and personalities when courting a merger partner.
Read More -
The right partner: Merger with Katz Korin Cunningham has Stoll Keenon Ogden looking to grow
For years, Katz Korin Cunningham turned down invitations from larger firms to discuss merging, saying it was happiest being independent. But in Stoll Keenon Ogden, it found a like-minded partner that had also spurned combination offers and took pride in being self-made.
Read More
Articles
Will Trump’s economic policies slow auto dealership mergers?
Mergers and acquisitions have been strong among Indiana auto dealerships for the past few years, but President Donald Trump’s economic policies have left dealmakers’ predictions mixed for 2025.
Taft expands into Florida through new merger with Mrachek Law
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, the second-largest law firm operating in Indianapolis, is expanding south and has announced a new merger with Florida-based law firm Mrachek Law.
The Closer: A Q&A with Brian Heaton, partner at Krieg DeVault
Brian Heaton grew up as the son of an accountant. Exposure to his father’s work inspired an interest in business that led him to become a mergers and acquisitions attorney focused on health care and family businesses.
Taft completes merger with Denver-based Sherman & Howard
With the merger, Taft is projecting annual revenue of $875 million and a headcount surpassing 1,100 lawyers.
Dentons expands services to Africa in new combinations
Dentons, the world’s largest global law firm with a presence in Indiana, is expanding its services across the Atlantic, combining with law firms in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Senegal.
UPDATE: Krieg DeVault to expand Chicago footprint in merger with Fuchs & Roselli Ltd.
The merger, effective Jan. 1, 2025, combines the Chicago firm’s 25 legal professionals with Krieg DeVault’s existing team, bringing the latter’s Chicago presence to nearly 40 professionals.
Taft announces expansion into Denver market with new merger
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is heading out west through the law firm’s newest merger with Sherman & Howard LLC in Denver. The firm announced Monday that it will merge with that city’s oldest and third-largest law firm effective Jan. 1, 2025.
A state’s experience with grocery chain mergers spurs a fight to stop Albertsons’ deal with Kroger
Supermarket chains Kroger and Albertsons said Monday they will sell more of their stores in an effort to quell the federal government’s concerns about their proposed merger.
‘Forecast is a little bit cloudy’: Venture capital exits hit their lowest in 2023, but rebound could be coming
In 2023, attorneys saw venture capital exits at their lowest levels since the pandemic and 2008 market crash.
Bricker, James and Stitle: Enhancing reputation, brand value through combination
It seems these days that the only opportunity for mid-sized firms to expand geographic reach or to grow bench strength and revenue is to acquire or combine with like-minded competitors.
Tragesser: How law firm expansion fuels growth in existing markets
When my law firm, Quarles & Brady, combined with a labor and employment boutique firm in San Diego last January — more than 2,000 miles from Indianapolis — it may not have initially seemed especially newsworthy to people locally.
Bice: Dentons continues local, national, global growth
Our vision of being truly local and uniquely global has provided outstanding results for our firm, our partners and most importantly for our clients.
M&A attorneys predicting stronger 2024; deals could benefit from more stable interest rates, economy
For some Indiana law firms involved with mergers and acquisitions, 2023 was a slower year.But attorneys like David Barrett, an executive partner in Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP’s Indianapolis office, say they expect things to pick up in 2024.
Amundsen Davis expanding through combination with Ohio firm
Amundsen Davis LLC, which has an Indianapolis office, has announced it will expand its operations and formally combine with the Columbus, Ohio-based law firm of Crabbe Brown & James LLP.
Church Church Hittle + Antrim merges with Burrus & Sease
Two of the area’s oldest law firms have joined forces, as Hamilton County-based Church Church Hittle + Antrim celebrated its new merger with Burrus & Sease June 8.
Faegre Drinker M&A Conference continues evolving in 10th year
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP hosted its 10th M&A Conference last week, continuing the evolution of an event that firm partner Jim Birge once feared was stale to something that he hopes is more interesting and relevant.
Hidde, Werner, Ruiz: FBT, AlvaradoSmith combination expands platform, DEI focus
Frost Brown Todd is starting out 2023 on a high note with a recent merger with California-based AlvaradoSmith. Effective the first of the year, it brings two strong, regional law firms into one national firm with a coast-to-coast footprint.
Dinsmore merges with San Diego firm, elects new managing partner
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, which has three Indiana offices, started the new year with a merger with Mulvaney Barry Beatty Linn & Mayers LLP in San Diego, along with a new chair.
Taft rings in the new year with a completed merger
Effective New Year’s Eve, Taft Stettinius & Hollister and Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss completed a combination first announced in September 2022. The move gives Taft — which has an office in Indianapolis — its first Michigan footprint.