Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney and Fowler White Boggs to Merge

Combination Enhances East Coast Presence and Strength in Key Practice Areas

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Mar 13, 2014, 03:15 ET

PITTSBURGH and TAMPA, Fla., March 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Two major law firms, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC and Fowler White Boggs P.A. announced that a vote from shareholders of both firms today affirmed their merger, effective March 14, 2014.

The addition of more than 90 attorneys and government relations professionals from Fowler White to the nearly 450 at Buchanan will propel the unified firm to one of the 100 largest law firms in the United States and will further enhance the firm's preeminent East Coast presence and key practice areas. Both firms enter the combination from positions of financial strength with deep client relationships and a culture that focuses on maintaining the highest levels of client service. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"This combination made sense from every angle," stated Jack Barbour, Buchanan's CEO. "We were looking to increase our bench in Florida, but only with professionals from a firm with the same cultural values and strategic objectives as ours. Fowler White perfectly fit the bill," he added.

The combined firm will have a significant presence in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, with a total headcount of nearly 30 lawyers in those offices. Fowler's additional offices in Tampa, Fort Myers, Tallahassee and Jacksonville will bring the combined firm's total Florida attorney headcount to more than 100.

"Buchanan's geographic reach and practice strengths were key factors in our decision to combine with them," said Rhea Law, Fowler's CEO and board chairman. "Fowler White's leadership in the areas of economic development has created opportunities to utilize Buchanan's expertise in Intellectual Property, Cybersecurity, Health Care and Financial Institutions. In addition, our firms share the same commitment to client and community service excellence."

Effective immediately, the combined firm will be cobranded in Florida as Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney/Fowler White Boggs. After a year transition period, the combined firm will be branded under the single name, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC.

Based in Tampa, Fowler White Boggs was founded in 1943 and operate offices in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville and Tallahassee. The firm's more than 90 attorneys focus primarily on litigation, financial institutions, bankruptcy, real estate, labor, tax, government relations and corporate law.

About the Combined Firm

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC (www.bipc.com) and Fowler White Boggs PA (www.fowlerwhite.com) have a combined total of nearly 530 attorneys and government relations professionals practicing throughout the United States. The firm's Florida offices now include Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Tallahassee and Tampa. The firm also has offices in California, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.