Hold on there, buckaroos! Rumors are swirling that Dallas-based Winstead is thinking of typing the knot with Troutman Sanders. The conversations are characterized as “way beyond preliminary” by sources who spoke with Texas Lawbook, but “far from a done deal.” Very interesting Biglaw news, though neither firm was willing to confirm the merger talks.
As reported by Law.com, Winstead chief executive officer and chairman David Dawson isn’t saying anything specific about Troutman Sanders, but said they do get approached about potential mergers by “a variety of firms, large and small, domestic, international, and we from time-to-time have reached out on our own.” That doesn’t sound like a denial.
Neither does the Troutman Sanders statement about the need to expand the firm’s “geographic footprint”:
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“That includes evaluating potential new U.S. and international offices, to the extent they help meet the goals under our strategic plan. Texas continues to be a market in which we are interested for these reasons,” the firm said.
The firm is definitely serious about their interest in the Lone Star State. As far back as February, they were talking up the need to expand there:
In an interview in February with The Daily Report, Troutman Sanders managing partner Stephen Lewis said Texas is on the firm’s radar. “We are willing to go quickly if we find the right group, but we are willing to be patient, too,” he said at the time, noting that the firm also wants a group that is a good cultural fit and a good fit for its practice.
If — and that’s a big if — this merger happens, it won’t be the first Texas merger of 2018. Hunton & Williams and Andrews Kurth merged to create Hunton Andrews Kurth. Dallas-based Gardere Wynne Sewell paired up with with Foley & Lardner, forming Foley Gardere. And another Dallas firm, Strasburger & Price merged with Clark Hill, creating Clark Hill Strasburger.
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I guess everything, even the Biglaw merger market, is bigger in Texas.
Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).