On Oct. 31, Connecticut’s Day, Berry & Howard and New Jersey’s Pitney Hardin announced a merger that will create a new law firm of nearly 400 lawyers. This new firm will have a footprint that will stretch up the Amtrak Northeast Corridor from Washington, D.C., to Boston, with station stops in a number of interesting markets along the way.
The new firm’s profile is likely to change the competitive dynamic for a number of Connecticut’s indigenous law firms. For starters, the Northeast will get another 400-lawyer firm with lots of high-quality assets throughout the region. Not long ago, 200 lawyers was considered to be a safe bet for major companies looking to hire outside counsel. With the increasing consolidation of law firms, it looks like 400 lawyers is becoming the new test for a safe bet.
