Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman said Thursday it’s in merger talks with Stroock & Stroock & Lavan.
“We consider all growth opportunities presented to us, including potential lateral groups and combinations,” the firm said in a statement. “We are currently evaluating opportunities with Stroock.”
Stroock also confirmed the discussions, saying in a statement it is “talking with Pillsbury about potential synergies.” Both law firms have signed a “non-exclusive” letter of intent to frame the discussion, the Pillsbury statement said.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan has been seeking a merger partner amid a flurry of partner exits, including the departure of more than 40 lawyers to Paul Hastings more than a year ago. In July, the New York-founded firm walked away from merger talks with Nixon Peabody. Stroock since has been linked to talks with other firms, including Steptoe & Johnson, Squire Patton Boggs and McGuireWoods.
In early August, Stroock secured the votes from retired partners to buy out its pension obligation, which had been a hurdle in its quest to complete a merger.
Pillsbury is no stranger to combinations, having previously explored a combination with San Francisco-founded Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe before ending talks in late 2013.
It also was in talks with Washington’s Dickstein Shapiro in 2012, before the latter shut its doors in 2016 and its 100-plus lawyers joined Philadelphia’s Blank Rome in an asset acquisition.
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