As Fox Rothschild considers a potential merger with North Carolina-based Smith Moore Leatherwood, legal observers say such a tie-up could be a good fit for a firm serving a mix of large and midmarket clients and seeking a bigger national presence, but it should proceed with care.

The Legal Intelligencer reported Wednesday that Fox Rothschild and Smith Moore have been engaged in merger talks. A combination of the two firms would add six offices and more than 100 lawyers to Fox Rothschild, which currently has 21 offices and about 800 lawyers, according to its website.