In a deal that could redraw the map of Big Law, McDermott Will & Emery is in advanced merger talks with New York-based Schulte Roth & Zabel, potentially forming a combined firm with $2.8 billion in revenue and nearly 1,700 lawyers—vaulting them into the top 15 of the AmLaw 100.
The firms are “actively finalizing a transformative combination,” a McDermott spokesperson confirmed, with a formal deal expected “in the coming months.”
“This will mark one of the most strategic and high-performing legal combinations in the industry’s history,” said the spokesperson, pointing to shared values of innovation, client service, and a people-first culture.
Titans Align: Power Practices Meet Strategic Gaps
McDermott, a dominant force in healthcare, tax, and mid-market M&A, will gain Schulte’s elite reputation in private capital, fund formation, financial regulation, and private equity buyouts. The merger would solidify McDermott’s position as a legal juggernaut, while giving Schulte expanded infrastructure and global reach.
McDermott currently ranks 23rd in the AmLaw 100, with 2024 revenues exceeding $2.2 billion and a profit per equity partner (PEP) of $4.6 million. Schulte brought in $618 million in 2024, with a still-impressive PEP of $4.1 million.
