SAN FRANCISCO — Day Casebeer Madrid & Batchelder — the high-end intellectual property boutique that was rattled by the Qualcomm discovery disaster — is in advanced talks to be acquired by national firm Howrey with a deal likely to close soon, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Both firms are known for IP litigation. Howrey, with 750 lawyers, would beef up its already sizable Northern California practice with the addition of the 27-lawyer Cupertino firm.