Biglaw
firms
are
trying
to
expand
their
presence
in
the
Southeast,
specifically
Atlanta
and
Charlotte,
and
that’s
causing
some
local
firms
to
leak
lawyers
like
sieves.
In
fact,
one
midsize
firm
in
the
area
has
been
hit
so
hard
by
Biglaw
firms
on
the
hunt
for
attorneys
that
it’s
now
looking
into
merger
opportunities.
Morris
Manning
&
Martin
—
a
well-regarded
Am
Law
200
firm
that
brought
in
$157,946,000
gross
revenue
last
year
—
is
now
facing
quite
the
conundrum.
The
firm
has
lost
more
than
one
third
of
its
attorneys
(about
60)
this
year
alone
to
firms
like
Fox
Rothschild,
Clark
Hill,
Reed
Smith,
Bradley
Arant,
and
Gunderson
Dettmer,
and
most
recently
suffered
a
blow
after
Seyfarth
Shaw
took
22
lawyers
from
its
real
estate
and
corporate
practice
groups.
According
to
the
Daily
Report,
Morris
Manning
is
now
in
serious
merger
talks
with
an
Am
Law
100
firm.
Here
are
the
details:
Morris
Manning
managing
partner
Simon
Malko
said
in
a
statement
that
a
potential
merger
offers
the
firm
“growth
prospects
on
the
horizon”
which
“are
very
exciting.”“Morris,
Manning
&
Martin
is
poised
for
highly
strategic
and
transformational
options
for
growth,”
Malko
said.
“We
are
in
advanced
discussions
with
a
national
Am
Law
100
firm
with
outstanding
lawyers,
comprehensive
full-service
resources,
a
highly
collegial
culture,
and
a
strong
cultural,
client
and
economic
fit.“We
have
a
solid
group
of
highly
respected
attorneys,
along
with
an
impressive
and
loyal
client
base
built
during
the
last
50
years,”
he
said.
“While
we
are
disappointed
to
see
some
of
our
attorneys
go,
we
wish
them
the
best.”
Although
this
certainly
sounds
promising,
an
industry
insider
with
knowledge
of
the
merger
talks
doesn’t
think
this
scenario
will
have
as
happy
of
an
ending
as
the
one
Malko
is
painting.
The
insider
thinks
a
more
likely
plan
will
be
for
other
firms
to
hire
away
lawyers
once
the
Morris
Manning
dissolves.
Best
of
luck
to
Morris
Manning
&
Martin
during
this
critical
juncture
in
time,
as
its
future
may
depend
on
the
next
moves
that
are
made.
Morris
Manning
Eyes
Options
as
Seyfarth
Shaw
Lures
22-Lawyer
Corporate,
Real
Estate
Group
[Daily
Report]
Staci
Zaretsky is
a
senior
editor
at
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
She’d
love
to
hear
from
you,
so
please
feel
free
to
email
her
with
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questions,
comments,
or
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