Fresno law firm Dowling Aaron announced Tuesday it would merge with Fennemore Craig, a regional law firm with offices throughout the western United States.
The deal, which was agreed to by the shareholders of both firms, will finalize Oct. 1.
Fennemore Craig currently operates in Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas, Reno, Tucson and Nogales.
Dowling Aaron, meanwhile, is heavily-centralized in Central California, with offices in Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield, Visalia, and on the Central Coast.
The firm will go by Fennemore Craig Dowling Aaron in the state of California. Fennemore Craig’s current CEO James Goodnow and Board chair Sarah Strunk will remain in their respective roles in the combined firm.
Dowling Aaron president Leigh Burnside will serve on the new firm’s Management Committee. Dowling Aaron founder and chairman Richard Aaron will serve in “a senior position within the firm and on key committees.”
“We’re thrilled to join forces with Dowling Aaron, with both firms coming from a position of strength and unique alignment in business operations, practices, client bases, and cultures,” Goodnow said in a statement. “Even through the pandemic, by acting strategically and boldly, we’re paving the way to better serve all of our clients’ needs.”
Aaron pointed to the strength of the combined firm , said the merger was a long-term commitment to his firm’s clients.
“This strategic combination offers our clients access to a national platform and deeper bench across the transactional and business litigation spectrum. With this combination, there’s virtually no matter we can’t handle. We will be our clients’ full-service, one-stop shop for any issue, big or small.”
