Law firm mergers may increase in 2010.

• Position: Dicta - Brief article

After a slow merger year in 2009, more law firms may feel the urge to get hitched this year, according to the results of Altman Weil's MergerLine. Last year, there were 53 new law firm mergers and acquisitions announced in the United States, a 24 percent decrease from 2008. And more than three-quarters of those mergers--79 percent--involved the acquisition of small law firms that had 20 or fewer lawyers.

"This reflects law firms' cautious approach last year, as most firms spent 2009 focused on internal issues of cost cutting, layoffs, and compensation adjustments in response to the Great Recession," said Altman Weil principal Ward Bower in a statement. "But we expect to see an uptick in 2010 as deals currently on hold pending 2009 year-end results are finalized."

The most notable mergers of 2009 included Britain's Lovells LLP with Washington...