News & Events
News & Events
As Merger Appetite Grows, Firms Focus on Matching Industries and Places
Lisa Smith quoted: Smith said the increased focus on alignment between sector and geography is particularly noticeable with emerging tech hubs, like Seattle, Boston, Texas and Salt Lake City.
Last-Minute Merger Cancellation Unusual But Not Unheard Of, Analysts Say
Lisa Smith is quoted: Lisa Smith, a principal at Washington, D.C.-based Fairfax Associates, estimated that maybe one out of 10, or one out of every 15 combination discussions actually advances to the merger stage. The top reason so many don’t go further? Conflicts, she said.
The Crystal Ball Is Cloudy, but Big Law’s New Leaders Are Ready for the Challenge
Lisa Smith is quoted: Consultant Lisa Smith of Fairfax Associates says new leaders taking over in 2021 should focus on their initiatives, despite the pandemic, because ‘If they were important before, they are still important.”
After Down 2020, Analysts See ‘Full-Bore’ Appetite for Big Law Mergers in ’21
Lisa Smith and Fairfax merger data is quoted: “The interest in combinations is extremely high, and we’ve already, just in the last week, gotten inquiries from multiple firms trying to look at their options and trying to figure out strategy and merger options for the year,” she said.
Midwest Merger Push Continues in 2021 as Dinsmore Announces Acquisition
Lisa Smith is quoted: “For Midwestern firms, consolidating in the region gives them a good platform across multiple states, where there are often business ties, so it helps …
After a pandemic lull, will a bull market for law firm mergers return in 2021?
Lisa Smith is quoted: Although some merger deals have been announced and executed virtually in 2020, Smith expressed doubt that a major merger between two large firms could be pulled off without more in-person contact than is currently feasible.
Why Analysts Caution Against Forecasting Based on Declining 2020 Demand
Lisa Smith is quoted: Smith, of Fairfax, also said trends within a given year are sometimes a more helpful indicator about the market’s health, as the comparisons between different quarters of different years can “over-amplify uneven patterns.”
As Cybersecurity Practices Become a Must-Have, More Firms ‘Give It the Right Name’
Lisa Smith quoted: Firms are keenly focused on the value of the cybersecurity and private practice because they understand how valuable it is to clients, said Lisa Smith, a firm consultant at Fairfax Associates in Washington, D.C. Smith said when she talks to her law firm clients about their strategic goals, the practice is frequently at the top of their wish list.