One other week, one other regulation agency merger. As a result of apparently nobody in Biglaw desires to remain regional anymore, in one more signal of rising consolidation in business, Frost Brown Todd and Gibbons are becoming a member of forces to create a brand new nationwide agency referred to as FBT Gibbons.
The mixture, set to go reside on January 1, 2026, will carry collectively about 800 attorneys throughout 25 workplaces from coast to coast. The brand new agency may have a attain that stretches from New York to California, giving each corporations a much wider platform — and much more legal professionals to wrangle.
Frost Brown Todd, primarily based in Cincinnati, is thought for its company and transactional work, whereas Newark-based Gibbons — a agency that’s almost a century outdated — has lengthy been a litigation heavyweight within the Northeast. Collectively, they’re hoping to carve out an even bigger slice of the middle-market pie, the more and more aggressive house between the worldwide Biglaw giants and the smaller boutiques.
Financially talking, they’re off to a strong begin. Mixed, the 2 corporations usher in north of $450 million in income — sufficient to land FBT Gibbons comfortably inside the Am Legislation 100 when the subsequent set of rankings come out. As famous by the American Lawyer, management for the brand new agency is already set:
“We’re very enthusiastic about this as leaders of our respective corporations and the leaders of the mixed agency to be,” stated FBT chairman Robert Sartin in an interview. “Our companions are very a lot behind this and enthusiastic about it.”
Sartin will function chair of the mixed agency, with Gibbons managing director Peter Torcicollo and FBT’s CEO Adam Corridor serving as co-managing companions. FBT held its partnership vote on the mix Monday, with greater than 90% of the agency’s partnership greenlighting the merger, and Gibbons’ partnership unanimously confirmed the merger Tuesday.
When the mud settles, FBT Gibbons will probably be one of many largest mid-market corporations within the nation, with the sources to tackle nationwide issues whereas holding that “client-first” vibe each corporations swear by. Whether or not that steadiness holds up after the honeymoon section stays to be seen, however for now, Frost Brown Todd and Gibbons are the most recent to say “I do” in Biglaw’s ongoing merger season.
Frost Brown Todd to Merge With NJ Mainstay Gibbons, Bolstering Northeast Footprint [American Lawyer]
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 happy 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.
