Legal Speak Podcast (Law.com): Melinda Wallman on What Partners Should Consider When Their Firm Is Mulling a Merger

Law firm mergers ticked up in 2023 and experts predict the trend will continue in 2024. According to the The American Lawyer, the tie-ups announced in a single week this month include Kilpatrick Townsend and HMB Legal Counsel; Fennemore Craig and Savitt Bruce & Willey; Barclay Damon and Shapiro; Lifschitz & Schram; and Phelps Dunbar and Farris Bobango.

While these and most mergers are fairly small-scale (especially compared to mega-mergers like Allen & Overy’s with Sherman, set to finalize in May), every one impacts the careers of numerous partners. How can a partner determine the potential impact of a merger on their practice and career trajectory? What are the key questions they should seek to answer if they find themselves mulling a lateral move ahead of the merger?

Melinda Wallman, a Macrae partner in London, joined American Lawyer Media editor Zack Needles on the Legal Speak podcast to share insights and advice drawn from her 20-plus years of experience advising partners on how - and when - to optimize their careers through a lateral move. When does it make sense to change firms ahead of a merger and when is staying put the best course of (in)action? How can you get a handle on what to expect post-merger before it becomes official?

We invite you to listen to the roughly 15-minute episode by clicking the white arrow below or visiting Law.com here.

For more on this topic, see Melinda’s August 2023 article in The American Lawyer, Should I Stay or Should I Go? 8 Questions Partners Facing a Merger Need to Answer