Hunton & Williams, Andrews Kurth agree to merger
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Partners at Hunton & Williams and Andrews Kurth Kenyon have approved a merger of the two law firms.
The new firm will be known as Hunton Andrews Kurth, report Texas Lawyer and the Richmond [Virginia] Times-Dispatch.
The combined firm will have more than 1,000 lawyers at 20 offices, with expected revenues of more than $750 million. The revenue figure will place the firm in the top 50 U.S. law practices.
The merger will take effect on April 2.
Texas Lawyer sees the merger as another sign that firms outside of the Am Law 50 are facing market pressure to remain competitive by growing larger.
Several groups of lawyers have recently left Andrews Kurth, but that didn’t affect Hunton & Williams’ interest in the merger, according to Hunton managing partner Wally Martinez, who spoke with Texas Lawyer.
“In all honesty, from the Hunton & Williams perspective, we are getting exactly what we wanted,” Martinez said. “Would there have been room, and do I think some of those other practices could have prospered here? Sure. But from a strategic standpoint, I could not be happier. I know I speak for my partners.”
Martinez will be managing partner of the new firm, while Andrews Kurth managing partner Robert Jewell will become managing partner emeritus. Hunton & Williams partner George Howell III will keep his current role as chairman of the executive committee.
