February 1, 2012 2:50 PM
Southern Strategy: Baker Donelson, Womble Carlyle Continue to Grow by Snapping up Small Shops
Posted by Brian Baxter
The law firm consolidation trend continued this week, with Womble Carlyle Sandridge Rice absorbing a three-lawyer South Carolina shop and Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell Berkowitz executing its third merger in less than four months by picking up a seven-lawyer Houston firm.
In both instances, the additions come in areas where the two Am Law 200 firm have been expanding their respective operations in recent months.
On Wednesday, Memphis-based Baker Donelson announced in a brief video message that it has scooped up Houston’s Drucker, Rutledge Smith, a four-partner shop specializing in civil litigation defense. The acquisition gives Baker Donelson about 630 lawyers in 18 offices throughout the southeastern U.S. and London.
Wednesday’s announcement comes about three months after Baker Donelson said it would acquire another Houston firm, seven-lawyer Spain Chambers, and about four months after it made its first foray into Florida by adding six-lawyer Orlando operation Litchford Christopher.
Womble Carlyle, meanwhile, has decided to triple its bet
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