- March 28, 2024
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Don't underestimate the longstanding power of college roommates.
That's an important takeaway from the recent merger between Tampa law firm Fowler White Boggs and Pittsburgh-based Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. The deal closed March 14, and the 90 attorneys and lobbyists at Fowler White will join the 450 lawyers at Buchanan Ingersoll, which has offices in seven states and Washington, D.C. The combined entity is now one of the 100 largest law firms in the U.S.
“We had been looking for a few years,” to merge with a firm in Florida, Buchanan Ingersoll CEO Jack Barbour tells Coffee Talk. “But we had been looking at smaller firms, with 10 or 15 attorneys.”
One of the largest commercial loan law firms in the country, Buchanan Ingersoll had difficulty finding a match. Then, at a meeting to discuss Florida options, Joe Dougherty, a managing shareholder in the firm's Philadelphia office, mentioned Joe Coleman — his roommate from Georgetown University in the early 1980s. Coleman is with the Fort Myers Fowler White branch, where he's president of the firm, runs the local office and serves on the board. Dougherty casually mentioned he would call Coleman to check in on the firm's long-term plans.
Fowler White, it turns out, while not on the market for a merger partner, per se, does have some ambitious goals. The firm, board chairwoman and CEO Rhea Law tells Coffee Talk, especially seeks to do more for clients in cyber security, health care and life sciences, three growing areas in Florida. Those are also areas of strength for Buchanan Ingersoll. “This opportunity fits our goals to a T,” says Law. “This goes to what Florida is and what it's becoming.”
So a year or so after Dougherty first rang up Coleman, the deal is done. Terms weren't disclosed.
The combined firms, according to a release, will be co-branded for a year in Florida under the name Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney/Fowler White Boggs. Says Barbour: “We're excited about having a larger and more sophisticated practice in Florida.
After a year transition period, the name will drop solely to Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. Law, a well-known leader in Tampa philanthropy and economic development circles, will remain with the firm and chair the entire Florida operation.