New England's Verrill, Rackemann merge, toughens Boston presence

New England's Verrill, Rackemann merge, toughens Boston presence

A new deal boosts Portland-based firm's Boston attorney headcount to 60 as the two cite cultural and technical compatibility. Rackemann Sawyer & Brewster has merged with New England regional firm, Verrill Dana in an effort to significantly expand Verrill's presence in the city.

As a result of the deal, Rackermann's staff, which includes 24 attorneys will be relocating to Verrill's Boston office and the combined firm will be operating under the name Verrill.

Verrill's Boston attorney headcount will increase to 60 with the launch of the new division, bringing its overall lawyer count to nearly 150. It should be enough to move the Portland-based firm from 318th to the top 300 in the NLJ 500 US law firms ranking by size.

It is estimated that both firms have long histories were founded within 15 years of each other: Verrill in 1862 and Rackermann in 1873.

Rackermann specializes in real estate, trusts, and estate planning, and insurance law, whereas Verrill is a full-service firm with highlighted practice areas like health care and life sciences, intellectual property, government and public relations.

Verrill managing partner K.C. Jones" said: "Together, we are able to strengthen our Boston presence and provide our respective clients with deep and high-quality services."

Francesco A. De Vito, Managing director, Rackemann said that the two firms had a cultural and practice fit.

In addition, he said, "We believed that combining our strengths would allow us to offer a wider range of legal services and better serve our clients. The subsequent discussions led both the firms to conclude that they are stronger together."

In addition to its offices in Boston and Portland, Verrill also maintains a principal office in Westport, Connecticut. Additional offices are located in Augusta (Maine), Providence, Washington, D.C., and White Plains.

In October, Fairfax Associates published a research that found US law firm merger activity to be lagging pre-pandemic levels despite a rebound in Q3, when eight mergers were completed. It includes Holland & Knight's tie-up with Dallas-based energy specialist Thompson & Knight.

An Am Law 200 firms Arent Fox and Schiff Hardin recently announced they will merge on 1 March 2022, projecting the combined firm into the Am Law 100. The Washington DC law firm Crowell & Moring has signed two US merger agreements this year. One with the Chicago-based IP and technology firm Brinks Gilson & Lione and the other with the Wall Street boutique Kibbe & Orbe.