Major U.S. Law Firms Troutman Pepper and Locke Lord Announce Merger

In a significant development for the legal industry, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders and Locke Lord have announced their agreement to merge, effective January 1, 2025. This union will result in the formation of Troutman Pepper Locke, a formidable entity comprising more than 1,600 legal professionals.

The newly formed firm will boast a substantial presence across the United States, with 33 offices nationwide. Additionally, it will maintain international outposts in London and Brussels, reflecting the growing trend of global expansion among major law firms. London's status as a global legal hub and Brussels' importance in EU regulatory matters underscore the strategic value of these locations.

Leadership of the combined firm will be structured as follows:
- Tom Cole, current chair of Troutman Pepper, will assume the role of chair
- David Taylor, Locke Lord's chair, will serve as vice chair
- Ashley Taylor, Troutman Pepper's vice chair, will also hold a vice chair position

The merger decision received approval from partners of both firms on September 5, 2024, following discussions that began earlier in the year.

Troutman Pepper Locke will leverage shared strengths in critical economic sectors, including energy, financial services, healthcare, and life sciences. These industries represent rapidly growing areas of legal practice, often requiring specialized expertise. The energy sector, in particular, has been a significant source of work for many large law firms.

This merger continues a pattern of growth through consolidation for both firms. Troutman Pepper itself was formed in 2020 through the merger of Troutman Sanders and Pepper Hamilton. Similarly, Locke Lord has expanded through multiple mergers, with its most recent being the 2015 combination with Edwards Wildman.

Financial data provides context for the scale of this merger. According to the American Lawyer, Troutman Pepper reported gross revenue of approximately $1.08 billion in 2023, while Locke Lord generated about $497.6 million in the same year. These figures place both firms within the prestigious "Am Law 100" ranking of top U.S. law firms by revenue.

The legal services market in the United States, being the largest globally, continues to see significant consolidation. This merger represents the largest law firm combination announced for the year 2025 thus far. It follows other notable mergers in the industry, such as the May 1, 2024 completion of the Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merger, which resulted in a firm of nearly 4,000 lawyers.

As the legal landscape evolves, factors such as technological innovation, international expansion, and industry specialization are becoming increasingly crucial. The formation of Troutman Pepper Locke reflects these trends, positioning the new entity to compete effectively in a dynamic market.

"We share significant practice strengths in industries that are critical to the economy."

This merger underscores the ongoing transformation of the legal industry, as firms seek to enhance their competitive edge through increased scale, broader geographic reach, and deeper industry expertise.