The final numbers are in for an exceptional year in law firm mergers: 2018 was one of the busiest years on record for combinations.

According to data compiled by Fairfax Associates, the 72 mergers completed in the past year is up from 65 in 2017 and easily outpaces the historical average of 52 mergers per year from 2008 to 2017. In 2001, the last time the law firm merger market was this hectic, 86 mergers were completed.