Two large law firms – one with a major presence in Denver and Boulder – announced today that they will combine Jan 1.
The combination of Minneapolis-based Faegre & Benson and Indianapolis-based Baker & Daniels will result in an organization with 770 lawyers and 45 consultants.
The firm will be known as Faegre Baker Daniels.
Faegre & Benson has 450 lawyers with offices in Denver and Boulder as well as Minneapolis, Des Moines, Shanghai and London.
Baker & Daniels has 320 lawyers and 45 consultants with offices in Indiana, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Beijing.
Andrew Humphrey, the managing partner at Faegre & Benson, said the firm has 90 lawyers in the Denver and Boulder offices. The total number of Faegre & Benson employees in Colorado – including staff – is 180.
Humphrey said the merger was done with clients in mind.
“Both firms identified strategic expansion as important to continue providing the high-quality services and expertise required by our clients. And that remains our focus: meeting the needs of our clients,” said Humphrey.
Humphrey said the expertise of the Colorado Faegre & Benson lawyers will be used nationwide and that the firm plans to continue to grow in the state.
The 45 Baker & Daniels consultants who work for B&D Consulting will become FaegreBD Consulting.
The consulting firm is described as a “national advisory and advocacy firm focused on key sectors of the economy.” It is Washington-based.
The combination of the law firms was announced following a vote by partners in both organizations.
Tom Froehle, chief executive partner at Baker & Daniels, said the size and added capabilities of the combined law firms will allow the new firm to devote more resources to larger projects and bring “deeper and broader experience to complex matters and transactions.”
“We also believe that this more visible platform will help attract and retain the highest caliber talent. Ultimately, this will help us provide better value to our clients,” said Froehle.
Humphrey said a primary benefit of the combination is “the creation of a true national firm with strong international capabilities.”
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
