The late October news that Stroock & Stroock & Lavan planned to close capped a chaotic chain of events for the longtime Am Law 200 firm.

In the last two years, Law.com has reported on multiple partner lateral exits, merger negotiations, false optimism for the future, more merger negotiations, staff layoffs and exits, pension plan changes and, finally, the planned dissolution of the firm itself, ending nearly 150 years of practice.