Effective today, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP is the new name of the combination of Texas-based Locke Liddell & Sapp PLLC and Lord Bissell & Brook LLP, a national firm headquartered in Chicago. Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell is a full-service, national law firm of approximately 700 attorneys with offices in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
With an expanded geographic scope, and a national reputation in the insurance and reinsurance sectors, corporate arena and litigation, energy, REIT, real estate and IP fields, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell is focused on achieving client success as a team.
Management of each firm first proposed the merger in May 2007, and partners of each firm approved it on September 12. Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell will have gross revenues of approximately $400 million, placing it within American Lawyer’s “AmLaw 100” annual rankings of the top U.S. law firms. Both firms have rich heritages. Locke Liddell & Sapp was established in 1891; Lord Bissell & Brook was founded in 1914.
“Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell truly has a nationwide platform of attorneys working strategically to handle all the needs of our clients,” said Chair Jerry Clements. “With similar cultures, common philosophies, complementary strengths and relative experiences, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell offers clients a dynamic platform to serve their needs effectively and efficiently.”
Prior to the combination of the two firms, Clements served as Locke Liddell & Sapp’s Managing Partner. Earlier this year, she was named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in the United States by National Law Journal. She resides in Austin, Texas.
Also serving on Locke Lord’s executive committee are, from Chicago, Thomas Jenkins (co-vice chair), Tom Cunningham and Nick DiGiovanni; from Dallas, Ed DeYoung and Don Glendenning; from Houston, Marc Watts (co-vice chair) and Bill Swanstrom; and from Los Angeles, Jackie Redin Klein. The combined firm also has a 14-member board of directors that will meet quarterly. The board will serve as representatives of the firm's lawyers and will work closely with the executive committee on planning and direction.
“We plan to seize this opportunity, as well as others in the future, to stay competitive, viable and diverse,” Clements said. “We will continue to be focused and creative and we commit to bring practical advice, legal know-how and dedicated service to our clients.”