‘Elite’ Biglaw Merger Approved, Poised To Become $2 Billion Firm

The votes are in, and it’s officially time to say hello to what could be a new Am Law Top 20 Biglaw firm. With news of the potential tie-up first announced in May, and following an “overwhelmingly” positive partnership-wide poll, McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel are poised to sign a merger agreement by July 1. Combined, the firm will have more than 1,750 lawyers spread across more than 20 offices globally, with joint revenue of more than $2.8 billion. On top of that, the merger will create a new top New York firm, with more than 540 lawyers servicing clients in the city that never sleeps.

Ira Coleman, McDermott’s chairman, said in a statement that through this merger, the firms are “not just expanding our expertise, we’re redefining what it means to be a modern, elite law firm—deeply specialized, relentlessly client-focused, and committed to a people-first culture.”

Marc Elovitz and David Efron, Schulte’s co-managing partners, echoed Coleman’s words, with Elovitz noting that by adding SRZ’s “extraordinary talent and premier client base with McDermott’s world-class platform, we’re creating a unique firm with unmatched capabilities. It’s truly transformational.” Efron agreed, stating, “This is a first-of-its-kind deal in our profession—with two elite firms performing at the highest levels choosing to come together—and we’re incredibly excited to bring it to life.”

Together, the firms have agreed to go forward under the name McDermott Will & Schulte, kicking Emery, Roth, and Zabel to the curb. The American Lawyer has some additional details on the combined firm’s rebranding efforts:

In his email, Coleman said the combination and new name will bring “together our two elite brands while preserving our proud legacies,” and McDermott will schedule a town hall in the coming weeks to share more details as the merger process unfolds.

He said the firms will merge brands “in a phased approach to fully leverage our shared strengths and market positions and minimize disruptions.”

He noted that in early September, the combined firm’s brand will incorporate “new colors, imagery, and designs—but, don’t worry, our beloved ‘M’ logo will continue to live on.”

“Of course, combining two firms of our size will take time, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we move forward. Our functional teams, in particular, are working diligently to ensure a smooth integration while supporting our regular processes and functions,” Coleman’s note added.

Now that the merger has been approved, McDermott Will & Schulte is expected to be effective by August 1. Congratulations!

Schulte and McDermott Partners Vote to Merge, Bringing Together ‘Two Elite Firms’ [American Lawyer]

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 any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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