5Q: Christopher Graham

 / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
/ PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

1 As the Providence office managing partner, what was your role in Locke Lord’s recent merger with Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP?

My role became significant after the merger, where I was able to use my knowledge of the corporate practices of Edwards Wildman partners, in particular, and assist in their integration. I am pleased the Providence office is highly respected within the combined firm, and the integration has progressed smoothly.

2 What were the reasons behind the merger?

Both firms were looking for more breadth and depth and to provide an expanded global footprint to our clients, many of whom now have business interests spanning the globe and need legal advisers with deep knowledge and experience in numerous disciplines and geographies. Now we have stronger practice groups across the firm.

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3 Since the merger announcement in January, what have been the firm’s biggest successes?

In addition to a greatly enhanced domestic and global footprint, Locke Lord now has a stronger team of lawyers working together to offer even broader representation of private equity and venture-capital clients across a spectrum of industries, including energy, technology, aviation, real estate and health care. Our strong, national public-finance team, recently ranked 10th nationally for bond counsel deals by The American Lawyer 2016 Corporate Scorecard, has benefited considerably from combined bench strength in the Northeast, Texas and now Cincinnati.

4 What have been the firm’s biggest challenges?

The first year of any merger is challenging and sometimes there are client conflicts which may require a partner to choose between leaving the firm and losing a client. Other times, there are individuals whose practices may fit better in a different setting; departures in those instances are unfortunate but inevitable.

5 Locally, what are the firm’s plans moving forward?

While our name may be new, our commitment to Rhode Island remains consistently strong, with [more than] 100 attorneys and staff in our Providence office. The firm expects that practice group to continue to expand, adding partners, associates and counsel, as its national client base grows larger. •

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