In an effort to broaden their footprints throughout the US, Biglaw companies have been raiding midsize companies within the Southeast to open new places of work and fortify particular follow teams. Morris Manning & Martin — a well-regarded Am Legislation 200 agency that introduced in $157,946,000 gross income final yr — was so exhausting hit by these practices that it misplaced a couple of third of its attorneys (about 60) to companies like Fox Rothschild, Clark Hill, Reed Smith, Bradley Arant, and Gunderson Dettmer, and Seyfarth Shaw. Earlier this summer time, the agency had entered into merger talks with an Am Legislation 100 agency, and now, its beforehand unnamed merger associate has been revealed.
As famous by the American Lawyer, Morris Manning is planning to merge with Taft Stettinius & Hollister — a agency that introduced in $701,000,000 gross income in 2024, placing it at No. 79 on the Am Legislation 100 — one of many fastest-growing companies within the nation. Taft’s merger with Morris Manning might be its third of 2025. The tie-up, projected to shut by the tip of the yr, will create a agency that’s 1,200 attorneys robust with gross income approaching $1 billion.
Am Legislation has some addition particulars on how the companies’ plans got here collectively:
As agency leaders evaluated the attainable deal, [Taft managing partner Robert] Hicks mentioned that “due to the departures we have been involved” if Taft could be “getting the perfect” expertise that remained at Morris Manning.
“Frankly, there’s like zero doubt in our minds,” Hicks mentioned. “Frankly, each time we met with Morris Manning simply acquired higher and higher, and we felt increasingly strong about it.” …
Hicks mentioned he believed Morris Manning was a “sufferer of its personal success” as a result of giant companies sometimes hunt down the highest-performing companions on the high native companies when shifting into any new market.
“We really noticed this as a optimistic,” he mentioned of the departures. “We checked out their shopper base and have been extremely impressed. We regarded on the proficient attorneys [and] have been extremely impressed.”
Simon Malko, Morris Manning’s managing associate, went on to say that whereas they’d been approached with mergers “many occasions” earlier than, Taft appeared essentially the most promising “We’ve by no means mentioned we’re going to merge for merger’s sake,” he mentioned. “Not one of the conversations earlier than Taft have been compelling alternatives.”
Congratulations to Morris Manning and Taft on what looks as if a merger choice that was made simply within the nick of time. Let’s see how far the mix will transfer Taft up within the Am Legislation 100 rankings.
Fast-Growing Taft Finds Third Merger Partner This Year in Atlanta’s Morris Manning [American Lawyer]
Earlier: Biglaw Firm Enters Merger Talks After Losing Nearly 60 Lawyers To Competitors In Mass Lateral Moves
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Legislation, the place she’s labored since 2011. She’d love to listen to from you, so please be at liberty to email her with any ideas, questions, feedback, or critiques. You possibly can comply with her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or join along with her on LinkedIn.
