Over the past six months, at least five small firms in the mid-Atlantic region have been swallowed up by midsize and large firms. Industry leaders and consultants are expecting to see a similar pace of absorptions in the coming year as uncertainty and economic pressures continue fueling a trend towards consolidation.

Since July, midsize firms Lamb McErlane, Saxton & Stump and Javerbaum Wurgaft Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins each merged with a significantly smaller firm, as did large firms White and Williams and Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.