Womble Bond Dickinson announced on Tuesday that its U.S. operations will merge with regional law firm Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP, effective at the beginning of the new year. This marks the third major law firm merger in just a week.
Womble Bond To Merge With Lewis Roca : Creating a Legal Powerhouse
The new entity, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, will be led by current chair and chief executive Merrick Benn and vice chair Kenneth Van Winkle. Together, the merged firm will boast more than 1,300 attorneys across 37 offices in the U.S. and the U.K., with combined gross revenue exceeding $742 million.
Betty Temple, chair and CEO of Womble Bond Dickinson in the U.S., highlighted the firms’ alignment, noting their “shared strategic vision for serving clients in fast-growing cities and innovation hubs.” This merger allows both firms to expand their reach, particularly in California and 29 other offices across 15 U.S. states, as well as Washington, D.C.
Expanding International Reach
Lewis Roca will gain enhanced international capabilities through Womble Bond Dickinson’s eight offices in the U.K., allowing it to better serve its clients’ global needs. Both firms are confident that this merger will bolster growth and make them more competitive in key practice areas such as finance, intellectual property, litigation, and corporate law.
Growing Trend of Law Firm Mergers
This merger between Womble Bond Dickinson and Lewis Roca is the third high-profile merger in the legal sector announced within a week. On Monday, Ballard Spahr LLP and Lane Powell PC unveiled plans to merge, creating a firm with over 750 lawyers. Just days earlier, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP and Locke Lord LLP announced their own merger, set to result in a firm with more than 1,600 attorneys.
Womble Bond To Merge With Lewis Roca : A “Win-Win” Deal
Kenneth Van Winkle described the merger as a “natural fit and a clear win-win” for both firms. “Bringing together our vast capabilities, resources, and experience is a rare opportunity to take both firms to new heights and chart a path for our ongoing success,” he added.
