Edwards Wildman Palmer, Locke Lord, in talks to combine firms

PROVIDENCE – The management teams of Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP and Locke Lord LLP have signed a letter of intent to combine the two law firms.

The move would create a combined firm called Locke Lord Edwards with more than 1,000 lawyers in 23 cities around the world.

Both firms are ranked in American Lawyer’s top 100 U.S. law firms.

A representative from Edwards Wildman Palmer could not be reached immediately for comment.

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Locally, Edwards Wildman Palmer has an office in Providence, as well as 15 others around the country and world. Its 450 lawyers are known for work in private equity and venture capital, complex litigation, insurance, technology, intellectual property and public finance.

Locke Lord, based in Dallas, has 13 offices and 630 lawyers, dealing in complex litigation, regulatory and transactional work.

In a press release, Locke Lord’s chairwoman, Jerry Clements, and Edwards Wildman’s managing partner, Alan Levin, announced the proposed combination, which is subject to the negotiation and execution of mutually acceptable transaction documents and partner approval.

If approved, the two firms would combine early next year, with Clements serving as chairwoman. Locke Lord Edwards’ gross revenue is estimated to be approximately $675 million, which would place it among the top 50 law firms listed in The American Lawyer’s annual 100 law firm rankings.

Clements, in a prepared statement, said that the two firms share many similarities, including “a wide geographical footprint in the United States and abroad.”

“We will spend the next few months working on details and introductions, and hopefully be able to move forward together in a way that offers increasing breadth and depth to our clients. Both firms have been through a number of successful combinations, but we think this one opens the door for something truly transformational,” she said.

Levin will serve as one of the vice chairs of the new firm.

“It was critical that we find a firm similar to us not only in its commitment to client service, but also in culture and vision, as well as a shared commitment to diversity and community involvement. Locke Lord has all of those attributes and more,” Levin said in a statement.

Three years ago, Boston law firm Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge and Chicago’s Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon merged to form Edwards Wildman.

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