Philly merger creates 500-lawyer powerhouse

Philadelphia firms Buchanan Ingersoll and Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling have merged to form the city’s largest law firm with more than 525 lawyers.

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

Buchanan CEO Tom VanKirk will lead the new firm for at least the next three years, with Klett Rooney’s managing partner, John Barbour, named as an executive shareholder.

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

Buchanan Ingersoll has added over 100 lawyers in the last year as part of a major growth push. In that time, Buchanan has merged with IP firm Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis, government relations boutique Hill Solutions and national litigation boutique Slotnick Shapiro & Crocker.

Klett Rooney had around 130 lawyers in total, meaning Buchanan Ingersoll has almost doubled in size over the last 12 months.