Nixon Peabody and Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar have signed a "memorandum of understanding to merge." Unfortunately, some lawyers will have to be canned if they occupy "duplicative positions."

The new firm will be keeping Nixon's name. I guess we know who'll wear the pants in the family (and which duplicative lawyers will be disinherited). I'm crossing my fingers they'll keep Hutch's website and dump Nixon's. That blue and red navigation bar really makes my eyes go batty. And HWD has FISH!

Excerpt from Press Release (taken off NP's site)

...
The Memorandum of Understanding will be followed by a definitive agreement that, if approved by the partners of both firms, will result in a combined firm operating under the Nixon Peabody name. Both firms feel that they have strong cultural and practice compatibility and that an eventual merger would be mutually beneficial. Nixon Peabody would move closer to its strategic goal of expanding its services in major metro markets and increasing its depth in several practice areas. Hutchins, Wheeler and Dittmar would be able to significantly expand services to its clients in other major markets and offer them a more extensive range of services. If the merger is completed, some modest staff reductions, dictated by practice synergies, are likely to be necessary.