Latest news with #legalmerger
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chase Neely PC Acquires TMBTQ™ Trademark Law Boutique, Building a National Platform for Entertainment, Corporate, and Federal IP Counsel
NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chase Neely PC, a business‑affairs and entertainment law practice, today announced it has acquired TMBTQ™ Trademark Law Boutique ( founded by attorney Tamara Pester, effective July 11, 2025. The combination expands creator-focused legal services across entertainment, corporate, and federal trademark/copyright matters, providing clients with end-to-end coverage from startup through scale and into in-house counsel maturity. Under the transaction, Chase Neely PC will operate as a DBA, "TMBTQ", preserving the TMBTQ brand while integrating trademark prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement, and advertising compliance into Neely's existing business affairs and corporate offerings. Clients will retain their day‑to‑day relationships and gain access to a deeper bench for negotiations, brand protection, and ongoing corporate needs. "We're building a platform where great attorneys' books of business hold real value—and where clients get comprehensive, creator‑first counsel under one roof," said Chase Neely, Managing Attorney, Chase Neely PC. "TMBTQ adds the trademark and brand‑protection function we didn't have in‑house. Together, we can move faster on deals, defend the brands our clients are building, and support them from first contract to global scale." "After nearly two decades building TMBTQ, I'm ready to focus on select opportunities where I can add the most value," said Tamara Pester Schklar, Founder of TMBTQ. "I'm excited about the energy Chase brings and the potential for synergy and growth under new ownership. I'll continue in a senior counsel role, working alongside our existing team to support a handful of clients. This transition ensures continuity for clients while expanding the resources available to support them." What the combination delivers for clients End‑to‑end coverage: entertainment and corporate business affairs, contracts and negotiations, company formation and transactions, plus federal trademark strategy (clearance, filing, portfolio management, monitoring, enforcement) and copyright counsel. Continuity with increased capacity: existing matters are continued with the same trusted attorneys; clients gain access to specialist pods for faster turnaround. Fractional general counsel pathway: support from formation and growth through the stage when companies stand up full in‑house teams. Brand & structure During the integration period, the combined practice will be "Chase Neely PC, DBA TMBTQ." The TMBTQ brand will continue to be client-facing while the team integrates systems, processes, and shared service standards. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Growth outlook As part of a broader roll‑up strategy, the firm is actively exploring additional acquisitions of federal‑practice boutiques in intellectual property and complementary corporate areas, alongside priority hires to meet demand. About Chase Neely PC Chase Neely PC is a creator‑focused business‑affairs and entertainment law practice serving artists, authors, producers, creative companies, and growth‑stage businesses with legal solutions that protect value and accelerate deals. The firm advises on corporate, commercial, and entertainment matters with a focus on efficient execution and long‑term brand building. Learn more: About TMBTQ™ Trademark Law Boutique TMBTQ is a boutique legal practice specializing in federal trademark and brand protection for established companies, multi-generational family businesses, and entrepreneurs, including clearance, registration, portfolio management, monitoring, enforcement, and advertising compliance. Founded by attorney Tamara Pester, TMBTQ helps clients safeguard brand equity at every stage of growth. Learn more: View source version on Contacts Media ContactAshton Belk, PresidentHuebner Marketingashtonb@ • [970) 775-7140] Acquisition‑Related InquiriesChase Neely, Managing Attorney, Chase Neely PCchase@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
02-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin launch latest transatlantic merger
June 2 (Reuters) - Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin have finalized the latest major legal industry merger of recent years, combining to form a 2,700-lawyer firm with over $2 billion in revenue. The merger took effect on Sunday following a partnership vote in April, creating what they have described as a top 20 firm globally under the name Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. The combination of New York-founded Kramer Levin and Herbert Smith Freehills, a larger firm with UK and Australian roots, continues a move toward consolidation in the industry as law firms seek scale to compete across major markets and practice areas. Justin D'Agostino, global CEO of the combined firm, said in an interview on Monday that HSF Kramer wants to expand its U.S. work in practice areas such as private equity and litigation, arbitration and white-collar crime. "We're coming in with a very clear investment plan, a very clear growth plan for the United States and internationally," said D'Agostino, a longtime Herbert Smith Freehills lawyer who splits time between London and Hong Kong. The firm is also eyeing a possible expansion into Texas to support its energy sector work, he said. In a similar transaction last year, London-founded Allen & Overy combined with New York's Shearman & Sterling to create A&O Shearman, with nearly 4,000 lawyers. New York firm Schulte, Roth & Zabel is currently in deal talks with larger Chicago-founded firm McDermott, Will & Emery. The firms said in early May that they are "actively finalizing" a merger that is expected to become official in the coming months. The consolidation is driven partly by the idea that greater size and profitability gives firms a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining lawyers from a limited talent pool, said law firm consultant Kent Zimmermann of Zeughauser Group. The departure of one or two key partners at a smaller and less profitable firm "can shake the confidence of the rest of the partnership more easily than when there's regrettable departures in firms with a much deeper bench of quality,' he said. Law firm merger activity stayed relatively steady for the first quarter of 2025, with 22 completed deals compared to 21 during that period in 2024, according to consultancy Fairfax Associates. Lisa Smith of Fairfax said there has been an uptick in cross-border mergers compared to a decade ago. There are 'more conversations and more serious conversations' about such deals, she said. Still, consultants said there remains only a small pool of UK-U.S. tie-ups that may ultimately make sense for some firms due to factors like gaps in profitability, cultural differences and client conflicts. There have been several transatlantic deals in recent years, some of which have been more successful than others, said Tony Williams of UK legal management consultancy Jomati Consultants. Other London-founded firms like Freshfields, Clifford Chance and Linklaters have instead grown significantly in the United States by hiring from competitors in major U.S. cities. Consultants said some of the firms that have grown through hires may be watching for the right opportunity. "There's been no secret that a range of UK firms would be interested in an appropriate merger with a U.S. firm," Williams said.
