Last week, The Am Law Daily spoke with Patton Boggs managing partner Edward Newberry about the potential merger his firm is discussing with Locke Lord.

For Patton Boggs—the 51-year-old Washington, D.C.–based powerhouse that is home to legendary lobbyist and name partner Thomas Hale Boggs Jr.—the talks come amid the rollout of a new strategic plan that has resulted in, among other things, the layoffs of more than 100 lawyers and staffers in a move designed to save roughly $20 million.