Three Am Law 200 law firms have announced key mergers and acquisitions this week throughout the country — promising more of the same in the near future.

Law firm leaders and analysts point to several factors driving the consolidation among the Second Hundred crowd and boutiques, including a fragmented industry and a perpetual drive to increase market share, a lateral market that underscores the difficulty of growing by “ones and twos,” the culmination of long-held strategies, and an openness from smaller firms to do deals.