January had barely begun before the year’s first law firm merger took shape. Lewis Roca Rothgerber, a firm rooted in the Southwest that was formed through a 2013 combination, announced that it would merge with intellectual property firm Christie, Parker & Hale, forming Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie.
The combination is just the latest in a slew of deals that have seen IP boutiques swallowed by big firms: There have been at least eight other full or partial IP firm acquisitions by Am Law 200 firms since April. Arnold & Porter, Blank Rome and Haynes and Boone each acquired firms. Duane Morris, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Dinsmore & Shohl and Dickinson Wright all announced bulk hires on Sept. 1, with Kelley Drye & Warren following suit in October.
