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2 law firms announce separate mergers effective…

Law Firms 2 law firms announce separate mergers effective Jan. 1

By Debra Cassens Weiss

December 23, 2021, 10:15 am CST

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Verrill Dana and Smith Gambrell Russell have announced separate mergers with smaller firms that are effective Jan. 1.

Verrill Dana, a law firm based in the New England northeastern U.S. region, will combine with Boston law firm Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster, according to a press release and stories by Law360, Law.com and Reuters.

The newly combined firm will be called Verrill and will have nearly 150 lawyers.

Atlanta-based Smith Gambrell Russell is combining with Atlanta law firm Rogers & Hardin, according to a press release and stories by Law.com and Law360.

Smith Gambrell has 270 lawyers in 10 offices in the United States and Europe. Rogers & Hardin has about 25 lawyers.

Jack Hardin, Rogers & Hardin founding partner, told Law360 that the firm has been approached by a number of would-be merger partners over the years. The firm finally decided to pursue a merger because it wanted to grow after the retirements of about 10 partners in recent years.

Steve Forte, Smith Gambrell managing partner, spoke with Law.com about the merger.

“We viewed it collectively as a win-win to put two branded law firms in Atlanta together that had a very similar culture and a very similar vision of how we view the practice of law,” he said.

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