New York/DC law firms call off merger talks
The planned merger between New York-based law firm Herrick Feinstein and the Washington DC-based Crowell & Morning has broken down, a spokesman for Herrick confirmed. The spokesman likened the merger to a marriage, claiming that "in the beginning it was appealing, but as you went along you see the synergies are not there." With only a small Manhattan office and a total of 500 attorneys, Crowell sought to build a more national presence by growing its workforce in New York. However, the 130-attorney Herrick felt that Crowell wasn't the right partner to strengthen its offering, the law firm's spokesman said.
The marriage is off between Midtown powerhouse law firm Herrick Feinstein and the D.C. based Crowell & Moring.

A spokesman for Herrick confirmed to The Post that the talks, which had been ongoing since November, broke down last week.

“It’s like a marriage but infinitely complex,” the spokesman said. “In the beginning, it was appealing, but as you went along you see the synergies are not there.”

With 500 attorneys and its base in D.C., the much larger Crowell is focused on politics. Founded in 1979, it has had a small Manhattan office for a decade. It has been seeking a more corporate and national presence but needs to beef up the City office, which has been slowly growing.

Crowell’s spokesman could not be reached.

Next year will be Herrick’s 90th anniversary. The 130-attorney firm represents the Yankees and the Port Authority and has a strong real estate practice with clients from Toll Brothers to the Empire State Realty Trust.

After all the due diligence and getting-to-know you meetings — including one in Herrick’s 2 Park Ave. amphitheater — Herrick has not been soured to another merger, but merely felt this wasn’t the right partner.

“We have a long legacy as an independent firm and the enthusiasm to be a stronger firm on our own,” the spokesman explained. “But it is a complex legal market and so all options are on the table.”