Law Firm Merger Mania: Everyone's a Winner at.... Nixon Pillsbury?

Possible layoffs at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman? Intriguing rumor making the rounds that might explain upheaval at Pillsbury?

Have you heard anything about Nixon Peabody merging with Pillsbury Winthrop? I have heard this from several different associates [at NP] over the past few weeks. It certainly would seem to jive with the new chairman's strategic initiative rolled out last month which hopes to double Nixon's size over the next few years.

Nixon Peabody LLP horrible theme song Above the Law blog.jpgMore about that initiative, from a second Nixon Peabody source:

[A] few weeks ago there was a firm-wide videoconference with the new managing partner Dick Langan. He said the goal was to double the size of the firm within five years; we all left saying the only possible way to go from 700 attorneys to 1500 in that short amount of time was a merger. He talked a lot about increasing our international presence, and specifically mentioned Paris and also South America.

So even if it doesn't get with Pillsbury Winthrop, a merger involving Nixon Peabody wouldn't be that surprising.

Read more, below the fold.

The NP tipster adds:

Apparently our supply room has also started recycling. I went to grab some binders yesterday, and the spine of one of them was labeled "NP Merger."

[A]las, there was nothing inside the binder.

To whoever is in charge of making deal-related binders at Nixon Peabody, you should start using code names. E.g., "Project Making More Winners."

We contacted both Pillsbury Winthrop and Nixon Peabody for comment. Pillsbury didn't get back to us; Nixon Peabody issued this statement, through a firm spokesperson:

While we are open to considering growth opportunities that are consistent with our strategic objectives and criteria, it would be inappropriate to comment on any specific discussions at this time.

Stay tuned. If Nixon Peabody and Pillsbury Winthrop do merge, we hope that the Nixon name will go first (even if Pillsbury is bigger in terms of number of lawyers and revenue). If they go with "Nixon Pillsbury," they can keep the firm song (mp3), and just touch it up with some minor dubbing: "Everyone's a winner at Nixon PILLS-bury!"