Law Firm Merger Set To Create New Am Law 200 Firm That Will Dominate The Southeastern Market

What exciting news. Congratulations!

Dollar handshakeThe new year is getting off to a great start as far as law firm combinations are concerned. Competition is getting fierce in the Southeast, and there’s no better way to corner the market than to satisfy the urge to merge — and become an Am Law 200 firm in the process.

Alabama-based Maynard Cooper & Gale and Carolinas-based Nexsen Pruet announced today that they’d be merging to create a 550-lawyer firm, effective April 1. The successor firm, Maynard Nexsen, will be one of the largest firms in the Southeastern portion of the country, with lawyers stationed across offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. Not to be forgotten are the firm’s lawyers in California, New York, Washington, D.C., Texas, and Iowa, for a total of 23 offices in all.

According to the American Lawyer, the merger between Maynard Cooper and Nexsen Pruet is likely to catapult Maynard Nexsen into the Am Law 200 based on the firm’s financials. (Nexsen Pruet earlier reported that last year, the firm’s revenue was in the $110 million to $115 million range, and the merged firm’s revenue will “probably be about $300 million,” per its managing shareholder.) Here’s what the future leaders of the merged firm said in a press release:

“Maynard Nexsen is a merger of two thriving firms that share the same culture, vision, and commitment to excellence,” said Jeff Grantham, CEO and Managing Shareholder. “With deep relationships and decades of experience in our respective markets, the firms fit together in a way that positions Maynard Nexsen for accelerated growth and collective success. Our newly combined firm will build on our common culture of client-centered service, collaborative teamwork, and entrepreneurial spirit. At over 550 attorneys strong, Maynard Nexsen will elevate our service and value proposition for our clients through greater capabilities, expanded geographical reach, and deeper bench strength that will allow us to handle any matter.”

“This is an incredibly exciting new chapter of growth as we come together as one,” said Leighton Lord, President and Chief Strategy Officer. “Maynard Nexsen is the result of two firms that share a client-centered culture and commitment to continued growth and evolution. Together, we are a powerful national force – broadening our capabilities and services to clients. I am honored to work together with Jeff Grantham and unite our talented teams.”

Congratulations to everyone at Maynard Nexsen on this exciting new venture.

Maynard and Nexsen to Merge, Creating 550-Lawyer Southeast Powerhouse [American Lawyer]


Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.