Thelen has laid off attorneys and changed its name, the law firm equivalent of hitting the gym and getting a makeover. Now they're back in the club and looking for a mate.

Leigh Jones of the National Law Journal reports:

Thelen and Nixon Peabody are in merger talks, with a possible agreement pending, according to sources close to the situation. The law firms have been in extensive talks, with Nixon Peabody leaders traveling to San Francisco to meet with Thelen leaders, according to two sources.

Wasn't this the plot to the movie Made of Honor? Nixon plays the role of Dr. McDreamy, with its dulcet law firm song. Thelen is the cute platonic friend, who suddenly starts looking really hot when she's about to get hitched to somebody else.

Given the amount of coverage ATL devotes to these two firms, we wholeheartedly endorse the pairing. Maybe we could convince them to adopt a firm mascot -- Nixlen Kittens, anyone?

Thelen in merger talks with Nixon Peabody [National Law Journal via Law.com]

Earlier: Law Firm Merger Mania: Thelen Sending Out Feelers?
Law Firm Merger Mania: Everyone's a Winner at.... Nixon Pillsbury?

As we reported last month, Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner is on the prowl for a merger partner. And just like a divorcée plunging back into the dating market, the firm is taking steps to make itself more attractive.

Like changing its name. From the firm's press release:

In a move to present a clear and strong brand in the legal marketplace, Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP, an international Am Law 100 law firm, announced today that it is shortening the legal name of the firm to Thelen LLP.

The name change will be effective September 9 and will better reflect the firm's 80-year history as one of the world's premier law firms. A single corporate identity also has the added benefit of consistent branding in the domestic and global markets in which Thelen operates.

There are other advantages, too. As reported in today's National Law Journal, name partner Jeffrey Steiner just defected to DLA Piper. This follows the departures of name partners Peter Brown (to Baker Hostetler) and Richard Raysman (to Otterbourg Steindler). Scrubbing their names from the firm name makes sense (and may have been required).

It's much safer for the firm simply to be known as "Thelen." Max Thelen isn't going anywhere.

Thelen Announces New Firm Name [press release]
Defections continue at Thelen [National Law Journal]
Thelen Faces Departures During Merger Search [Legal Times]
Thelen, It Rhymes With Wheelin' [WSJ Law Blog]

In today's Morning Docket, we wondered about what Milberg Weiss's new name would be, now that Mel Weiss is on his way to becoming a convicted felon. The answer came more quickly than expected. From the WSJ Law Blog:

The firm formerly known as Milberg Weiss Bershad & Shulman LLP, then Milberg Weiss Bershad LLP, then Milberg Weiss LLP, will now be known just as Milberg LLP. According to a Milberg insider, the name change was announced at a staff meeting this morning, at which Mel Weiss gave a speech talking about the accomplishments of the firm. The audience reportedly applauded.....

"Hey everyone, I'm going to prison for 18 to 33 months. Give me a big hand!"

The WSJ reported this morning that Mel Weiss has struck a deal to agree to plead guilty in a case alleging improper kickbacks. Other former name partners David Bershad and Steven Schulman had previously pleaded guilty in the case.

The beauty of naming the firm after Larry Milberg? He dead.

More Milberg Weiss coverage, including a statement from Mel Weiss, at the WSJ Law Blog.

Introducing . . . Milberg LLP [WSJ Law Blog]

Most law firm name changes are pretty silly. The general approach: lop off all names after the first two. If you like, squish the surviving names together into one word, to make yourselves seem contemporary and cool. E.g., "WilmerHale." (A law firm marketing firm would charge you five figures for that advice.)

Okay, so how do you get anyone to care about your name change? You make a YouTube video, that's how! Here's a press release from Hanson Bridgett LLP, a northern California firm with about 130 lawyers:

The firm formally known as Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahos, & Rudy LLP has a new tag line—"Inspired"—to go with its new logo and a new abridged name, Hanson Bridgett LLP. Breaking through the monotony of the legal landscape, the firm is employing a light-hearted video to help disseminate the re-branding roll-out by "word of mouse."

Seriously. As the press release notes, "[t]he video stars Hanson Bridgett Managing Partner Andrew Giacomini, who is seen banging a bass drum while walking down Market Street in Lederhosen and knee-highs."

The video, cutely entitled "The Law Accordion to Hanson Bridget," is kinda weird, and a bit too long; you really need just the first and last 30 seconds. But it's an interesting experiment in law firm marketing. Check it out:

Oh, and the firm has its own blog: the Infrastructure Law Blog. Infrastructure law sounds even more boring than ERISA may not be the sexiest practice area ever. But the firm deserves props for participating in, rather than fighting, the online revolution.

P.S. Yes, we've seen the Pillsbury Winthrop video. We'll be writing about it in a separate post.

The Law Accordion To Hanson Bridgett [YouTube]
Hanson Bridgett Launches New Look, Video to Match [press release]
Infrastructure Law Blog
Hanson Bridgett LLP [official website]

A tipster just wrote us: "Post this, and we can have at it in the comments!"

Happy to oblige. From the New York Times:

If a group is to be recognized as a significant force in municipal life, it needs a nickname. The police have been dubbed New York’s Finest longer than anyone can remember. Firefighters go by New York’s Bravest. Sanitation workers are the Strongest and correction officers the Boldest. Attempts have been made to cast public school teachers as the Brightest.

But what about the roughly 690 lawyers on the city payroll? (This is your first and last chance to insert a lawyer joke, if you must.)

Seriously, members of the city’s Law Department labor without a punchy nickname. They could use one.

So go ahead; have at it, in the comments. If enough possible nicknames are generated, we'll take the top contenders and create a reader poll -- and then pass along the winning entry to the NYC Law Department.

Always on the City’s Side in Court, and Without a Good Nickname [New York Times]

The combined firm will have over 1,500 lawyers in 23 offices. It will "employ the K&L Gates brand and have the legal name of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP." Press release here.

Update: Some commentary from an inside source, after the jump.

K&L Gates, Hughes & Luce Partners Vote to Combine Firms Effective January 1 [K&L Gates]

In case you missed this story from last week, here's a recap. Earlier this month, a plaintiffs' lawyer in Montana by the name of William Managhan sent out the following email, to the entire Montana Trial Lawyers Association:

From: William L. Managhan
To: Montana Trial Lawyers
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 6:32 PM
Subject: [mtla_members_all] Firm Name Change

Managhan & Kortum-Managhan Law Firm will no longer be known as such. The name is returning to Managhan Law Firm as Santana Kortum-Managhan is leaving the firm. Turns out that she was having sex with Tim McKeon of Anaconda while attending MMLP hearings in Helena.

Call me silly but I no longer fill [sic] comfortable with her as my law partner or wife. Some will think this is an inappropriate announcement, but considering the small legal community in our state, I might as well preempt the roomer mill [sic]. Please address communication to William L. Managhan through Managhan Law Firm.

More discussion, including accounts of our telephone conversations with Bobbi Bonnington and Tim of Anaconda, after the jump.

A fantastic and hilarious email, announcing a name change for a Montana law firm, has been making the rounds. We'd like to reprint it here, but we'll refrain for now. Instead, read the email and commentary on it here and here.

We have no reason to question the authenticity of the email (which apparently went out to the entire membership of the Montana Trial Lawyers Association). But we haven't verified it definitively either. And we'd like to give William Managhan and Santana Kortum-Managhan the chance to comment, given the salacious nature of the material. How do they fill about all the roomers?

Accordingly, we have phone calls and emails in to the Managhan Law Firm (whose typo-laden website still identifies it as the "Managhan & Kortum-Managhan Law Firm"). We will let you know if and when we hear back from them.

Update (7 PM): We have been communicating with Bobbi Bonnington via email. We hope to have more information for you soon.

A comedic tidbit...courtesy of Montana [The Amateur Law Professor]
Firm Name Change [The Legal Scoop]

People in the offices of both Dewey Ballantine and LeBoeuf Lamb have been gossiping about a possible merger between their firms.

Here's some circumstantial evidence in support of the rumors. If you go to Whois.Net and enter the domain name DeweyLeBoeuf.com, you get this info:

We have a call and an email in to Michael Groll. We'll let you know if and when we hear back from him.

Update: Might this be a practical joke, as one commenter suggests? Quite possibly. That's why we've reached out to Mr. Groll for comment.

Further Update (4:45 PM): No, this is the real deal. About an hour after our post went up, the WSJ Law Blog chimed in with this write-up: "LeBoeuf Lamb and Dewey Ballantine are in merger talks, with an announcement of a deal expected as early as Monday, according to people familiar with the situation."

Further Further Update (8/25/07): The New York Times has an article on the merger talks here.

More discussion, plus links, after the jump.

* Even in Berkeley, it’s a little bit about the money. And by a little bit, I mean a lot. If you want to be a PD in spite of higher student loans, just apply for a Sandy Cohen Public Defender Fellowship. The OC may be off the air, but some indie law kid is bound to follow up with another pop-culture inspired tie-in. [Nuts & Boalts; Los Angeles Times]

* Smallish firms where named partners are actually still alive and employed should think about adopting a generic boy band-esque name (Menudo LLP?) to avoid the awkwardness that ensues after a member is unceremoniously kicked out (or hits puberty). [The BLT: Blog of the Legal Times]

* Let us take back toddler cuteness! I do question visible make-up and the whole Vogue Bambini aesthetic on the under-5 set, but aren’t you glad that unlike real life, that little girl’s bikini top isn’t totally off-center? [eitb24 via Drudge Report]

* This is not a joke (à la SNL fake commercials/Games Magazines fake ads of yesteryear). [Feminist Law Professors]

* If it’s not in the URL, get rid of it. [Law.com]

* Pedophiles are upset to learn that the 12-year-old they’ve been “violating” is actually 29. Another example of how TV and movies featuring twenty-something actors as smooth-faced teenagers warps reality. [AP via MSN]

* It’s Roe v. Wade’s 34th anniversary. The pro… [Feministing]

* …and the con. [La Shawn Barber’s Corner]

* Oh good, Cully says pro bono is ok again. [Washington Post; Washington Post (letter to the editor) via WSJ Law Blog]

* "Two things made Christopher Willever's drunken burglary of a Tobacco Hut even worse as he crawled across the store floor — a lousy belt and his camera-loving backside." [MSNBC]

* U.S. Attorneys' increasing rate of attrition. [Wall Street Journal via WSJ Law Blog (departures generally); WSJ Law Blog (Kevin Ryan)]

* Tennessee is tennetaxin' illegal drugs. [Time]

* Time for new business cards and letterhead over at Wiley Rein & Fielding [Legal Times]

* The mystery raised here has been answered. Richard Posner isn't the only federal government official who likes to blog. [Opinion Juris]

* Gay Sullivan & Cromwell partner David Braff, to the New York Times: “I’ve been openly gay since I arrived at this firm in 1984. There’s absolutely no atmosphere of hostility toward gay people here.”
[New York Times via DealBook]

* The fight over whether Judge Stephen S. Trott's seat on the Ninth Circuit belongs to Idaho or California has been resolved -- for now. [How Appealing]

* Is CBS attempting to redress any previous restraints on free speech? You know more than a few submissions will feature wardrobe malfunctions. [CBS]

* Because the long-standing Dewey Cheatem & Howe joke is not fair to Dewey Ballantine, which is already feeling like the pathetic, STD-ridden dumpee that it is. [Concurring Opinions]

* The next logical step is for the publishers of Gray’s Anatomy to sue ABC -- and for the next edition of said text to feature the United Colors of Benetton cast on its cover. [FN1] [The Agitator]

[FN1] It has come to my attention that a lot of lawyers and those who love them don’t have time for even must-see TV. So please note that the ubiquitous Postal Service single is featured on the Grey’s
Anatomy soundtrack. See how that works?

In our post last month about the merger of Cooley Godward and Kronish Lieb, we wondered aloud: And What About Mr. Lieb? His name was unceremoniously dumped from the moniker of the new entity, which will be known as "Cooley Godward Kronish." Ouch.

Readers have subsequently informed us of what Richard Lieb is up to these days. He can be found alive and well, teaching a full load in the Bankruptcy LLM program at St. John's University School of Law. He also still maintains an office at the firm, where he's a retired partner (of counsel).

It seems that the academic life agrees with Lieb, at least according to one correspondent:

[H]e puts a lot of time and attention into his courses and, based on his reputation from many years of practice, has successfully enticed numerous"'name" bankruptcy lawyers professors and judges to come and speak to his classes. As far as I know, St. John's is the only LLM program in bankruptcy anywhere, and Mr. Lieb still has a remarkable command of legal principles and reported case law at his fingertips.

Glad to hear it. We hope to still have command of our bowels at age 76, to say nothing of "legal principles and reported case law."

But still, the question remains: How does Mr. Lieb feel about having his name axed post-merger? According to time-honored law firming naming principles, one would expect the post-merger entity to be called either "Cooley Kronish" (a la "WilmerHale") or "Cooley Godward Kronish Lieb" (a la "Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman").

Our suggestion: Just call the firm "Suri Cruise LLP." Publicity avalanche -- and massive Google traffic -- guaranteed!

(That would be almost as good a firm name as our reigning favorite: Saxena White.)

Earlier: And What About Mr. Lieb?

Richard Lieb [Kronish Lieb]
Richard Lieb bio [Martindale-Hubbell]

"Small is beautiful." That seems to be the trend with cell phones, digital cameras -- and, of course, law firm names:

DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary has officially shortened its name to DLA Piper.

One of the world's largest law firms with 3,100 lawyers, DLA Piper is the culmination of a series of mergers, beginning with the 1999 combination between Baltimore's Piper & Marbury and Chicago's Rudnick & Wolfe. At the beginning of last year, the firm then known as Piper Rudnick officially merged with both Palo Alto, Calif.-based Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich and British legal giant DLA, which had 1,800 lawyers.

The firm said it had always planned to shorten the name after a transitional period.

Here's our question: Why stop there? Why not just call the firm "DLA," "DL," or just plain "D"? Law firms have become huge businesses; they might as well sound like them -- like GM, GE, IBM, etc.

This is only the latest example of a law firm streamlining its moniker by chopping off unnecessary or unwieldy partner surnames. Some years ago, the venerable "Dechert, Price & Rhoads" turned into "Dechert" -- a sign that it had arrived, like "Madonna" or "Cher." And "Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn" became "Proskauer Rose." (What prompted that change? Was it to avoid any negative associations with subway shooter Bernhard Goetz?)

Sometimes firms change their names not to make them shorter, but just to avoid being the butt of jokes by opposing counsel. Take one of New Jersey's largest law firms, Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger, & Vecchione. It used to be "Crummy, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger, & Vecchione." But when former Third Circuit Chief Judge John J. Gibbons (re)joined the firm, they quickly dumped "Crummy" and replaced it with "Gibbons."

W can hardly blame for that. But we still feel bad for poor Andrew Crummy.

Two Across, Eight Letters: Firm Its Shortens Name [New York Law Journal]