Unclear how R.I. office to be affected by Locke Lord, Edwards Wildman Palmer merger

PROVIDENCE – Locke Lord LLP and Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP have approved the merger of their law firms, creating Locke Lord Edwards effective Jan. 10.
Asked how the Providence office of Edwards Wildman Palmer would be affected by the merger, Edwards Wildman spokeswoman Heather Merton said needs are being evaluated, as the vote just happened.
“Now that the partnerships have approved the merger, we will begin the process of integrating the firms. Our goal, as it always has been, is to emerge from this merger as an even stronger firm with more depth and breadth, and to grow where it makes sense for us and our clients,” Merton said in an email.
She said the firm has 52 lawyers and 100 staff members in Providence.
As a result of the merger, the new firm will have approximately 1,000 lawyers working from 23 offices around the world. The firm’s gross revenue will be approximately $675 million, placing it among the 50 largest firms in The American Lawyer’s “AmLaw 100” annual rankings of top U.S. law firms, the companies stated.
Jerry Clements will serve as chairwoman of the combined firm. Alan Levin, who currently serves as managing partner of Edwards Wildman, along with Locke Lord’s Dan Schlessinger and Bill Swanstrom, will serve as the three vice chairs of Locke Lord Edwards.
Boston-based Edwards Wildman Palmer’s 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, the company discussed its Northeast operations, saying it “will have a significant operation in Boston” with approximately 150 lawyers, as well as offices in Providence; Hartford and Stamford, Conn.; and Morristown, N.J. Also, the combined firm will significantly expand its Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C., offices; increase its visibility in California, and expand in the southeast with offices in Atlanta, Miami and West Palm Beach, Fla.
London will continue to be an important focus of the combined firm as a gateway to international business.

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