In the BigLaw realm, firm mergers are a fact of life.  While rumors that inevitably go unfulfilled seem to spew like a broken water main, chances are that any attorney spending more than a couple of years in a medium or large firm will find themselves on one side or the other of a merger.

Of course, such deals generate great excitement amongst the participating firms and the surrounding legal community.  For managing partners sitting in New York or London, they are in the best interest for the long-term goals of the firms, otherwise the deals would not go through.  As an individual attorney along for the ride, however, there can be some entirely different considerations.

For associates, a new firm organization can have wide-ranging effects.  Will you be thrown into an entirely different pay scale with different expectations for billable hours?  Have partnership prospects drastically changed?  Perhaps your practice group will suddenly be over-staffed if the merging firms have similar groups in the same city.

As a partner, you might find new firm-wide billing rates don’t fit your clients’ needs.  You can also find yourself suddenly a smaller fish in a much bigger pond.  The other firm may even bring new clients with conflicts of interest that cannot be reconciled.

The list is almost limitless, and of course many of the above issues can fall as positives or negatives.  Lawyers who find themselves in this situation should take a long look at how such a merger will affect their legal career.  Without a doubt, it is an excellent opportunity to consider options, and a good legal recruiter can provide valuable insights.  The recruitment team at Kinney Recruiting is happy to help you explore the opportunities available, regardless of where you are in your career.  Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at any time!