An analysis by law firm consultancy Altman Weil has found that law firm mergers were fewer in 2010 than previous years, but picked up late in the year, according to The Legal Intelligencer, a sibling publication.

There were 39 law firm combinations last year, down from 53 in 2009 and 70 in 2008, The Intelligencer reports. But fourth quarter announcements accounted for 38 percent of the 2010 totals–15 law firm tie-ups were announced in the last four months of the year.