Buchanan Ingersoll and Klett Rooney join forces

Pittsburgh-based Buchanan Ingersoll and Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling have merged to form the Pennsylvania's largest law firm, with more than 525 lawyers.

The new firm, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, will have an estimated combined turnover of $265m (£143.71m).

Buchanan chief executive Tom VanKirk will lead the new firm for at least the next three years. Klett Rooney's managing partner, John Barbour, will be an executive shareholder.

VanKirk said: "This is the largest combination our firm has ever done. Strengthening our mid-Atlantic presence enables us to continue to pursue our goal of being a strong national firm operating as one unified entity."

The Klett Rooney merger is part of a major growth push that has seen Buchanan almost double in size over the past year. Klett Rooney's 130 lawyers aside, Buchanan has added more than 100 lawyers in the past 12 months. It has merged with IP firm Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis, government relations boutique Hill Solutions and national litigation boutique Slotnick Shapiro & Crocker, among others.

Klett Rooney's client base includes Chubb Insurance, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, The Pittsburgh Steelers NFL team, Reliant Energy and Verizon.

With the merger, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney becomes one of the 80 largest firms in the US on turnover. It will have 17 offices across the US including Philadelphia, Washington DC, New York and San Diego.

Buchanan will add Klett Rooney's presence in Wilmington, Delaware, to its national network. Howard Scher, head of Buchanan's Philadelphia office, said this would boost practice areas such as employment and creditors' rights. "This gives us nearly 90 attorneys in the region and will help us offer increased services to all of our clients," said Scher.

Klett Rooney is strong in real estate, government affairs, litigation and employment. Buchanan focuses on IP, corporate finance and tax.