Holy Moly! An 'Incestuous' Law Firm Merger For Foley?

This Biglaw firm might as well be marrying its law firm cousin.

The Foley Friedman family circle?

The Foley Friedman law firm family circle?

Almost two years ago, Foley & Lardner left Eversheds standing at the altar. Since then, the U.K. firm has partnered with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan to become Eversheds Sutherland, but Foley still finds itself all alone.

Single and ready to mingle once more, it looks like Foley has found the perfect merger match in Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman, a New York litigation boutique with strong ties to Foley. In fact, Friedman Kaplan has so many ties to Foley that the Biglaw firm might as well be marrying its law firm cousin. As we mentioned earlier today, the whole affair seems to be a bit “incestuous.”

Don’t believe us? Here’s more information from Am Law Daily:

Friedman Kaplan, a 46-lawyer boutique that handles mainly litigation, has strong ties to Foley & Lardner. The latter opened in New York back in 2004 after absorbing New York litigation firm Friedman, Wang & Bleiberg. Peter Wang, a name partner at that firm, currently serves as managing partner of Foley & Lardner’s New York office. Wang’s son, Jeffrey Wang, is a litigator who made partner at Friedman Kaplan in 2011. And the family connections don’t stop there.

Jonathan Friedman, a son of Friedman Kaplan founding partner Edward Friedman, is currently senior counsel with Foley & Lardner’s litigation and dispute resolution group in New York. (Arthur Friedman, a former Friedman Wang name partner who died at 79 in 2006, is unrelated to the other Friedmans.) Foley & Lardner and Friedman Kaplan, which have been adverse on some client matters, are currently working together representing forestry company Rayonier Inc. in securities litigation in a Florida federal court.

Mum is apparently the word on this potential merger, as no one from either firm was willing to or available to comment. Luckily, you can legally marry your cousin in New York, so Foley should be in the clear for this would-be merger. Best wishes!

Foley & Lardner Explores Union With New York’s Friedman Kaplan [Am Law Daily]

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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. She’d love to hear from you, so feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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