Editor’s Note: In their upcoming book “Law Firm Mergers: Lessons From Successful Strategic Combinations,” Kent Zimmermann and John E. Morris outline reasons for and paths to law firm mergers. In this second of three excerpts from the book, the authors offer tips for the smaller firm in a potential combination. The first part of the series can be read here.

The larger forces of the legal marketplace pose threats to many firms that are either under-sized and/or less profitable relative to competitors.

How to begin evaluating the option