Law Firms Orrick and Akin Gump End Merger Talks

Lawyer News



The big law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has seen its share of merger discussions fizzle out in recent years. Add its talks with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to the list.


Less than a week after confirming that they were in preliminary discussions to merge, Orrick and Akin Gump released a joint statement Monday morning announcing that their brief flirtation has already petered out.  The decision to end their talks was described as a mutual one.

“The firms appreciated the opportunity to have the discussions, which confirmed their mutual respect for one another,” the statement said. “However, the firms have determined not to proceed.”


Last week, consultants who specialize in law-firm mergers described the fit between Orrick and Akin Gump as a good one, considering they did not overlap much in terms of offices or strong practice areas.  Together, the firms would have employed nearly 1,900 lawyers with combined revenues in excess of $1.5 billion.


But the breakdown in talks is not particularly surprising, given how delicate merger discussions between big law firms tend to be. As The American Lawyer has pointed out, Orrick is something of a model for aborted merger talks, with its unsuccessful deal with what was then Dewey Ballantine in 2007 standing out as the most notable example.



Related listings

  • Jones Day law firm expanding into Brazil

    Jones Day law firm expanding into Brazil

    Lawyer News 11/02/2010

    The Jones Day law firm said today it will open an office in Brazil, one of the world's fastest-growing economies. The office will be Jones Day's 33rd and its second in Latin America after Mexico City. The Sao Paulo office will support global clients ...

  • Richard B. Thomas Promoted to Associate

    Richard B. Thomas Promoted to Associate

    Lawyer News 11/02/2010

    Richard B. Thomas, a long-time patent engineer with Armstrong Teasdale LLP, has become an associate in the law firm’s Intellectual Property practice group. With Thomas’ promotion, the firm expands its Intellectual Property group to 70 people. Much of...

  • Marc D. Goldstein Joins Law Firm of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman

    Marc D. Goldstein Joins Law Firm of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman

    Lawyer News 11/02/2010

    Marc D. Goldstein has joined the law firm of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C., as an associate focusing his legal practice in the areas of Labor and Employment Law, and Government Relations. Mr. Goldstein earned a J.D. degree from Washington Univer...

New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.