Birmingham, Alabama-based Burr & Forman LLP will acquire the McNair Law Firm PA, gaining a major public finance practice in the Carolinas.
The acquisition will become effective Jan. 1. Financial terms were not disclosed.
McNair’s 84 attorneys will join Burr & Forman’s 350 legal and business professionals, expanding the combined firm’s footprint to 19 offices in eight states.
“We are especially excited about the opportunities this transaction provides to our public finance practice, which is routinely rated at the top of recognized industry rankings in South Carolina,” said Michael Seezen, a shareholder and transactional and securities lawyer at McNair.
“Whether involving borrowings by state or local governments, or bond transactions for health systems, assisted living facilities, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations or manufacturing facilities, we have the skills and people to support and expand the combined firm’s public finance practice across the Southeastern footprint,” said Seezen, whose practice includes public finance, corporate securities and Securities and Exchange Commission reporting.
McNair serves business and government clients from six offices in South Carolina and an office in Charlotte, North Carolina. The firm’s largest office is in Columbia, South Carolina.
Thomson Reuters ranked McNair second among South Carolina bond counsel in 2017, crediting it with $1.19 billion of volume on 32 transactions.
Burr & Forman is a full-service regional firm offering transactional, litigation and regulatory counseling in 12 offices in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Founded by former South Carolina Gov. Robert McNair nearly 50 years ago, the McNair Law Firm understands the intricacies of doing business in the Carolinas and has an established history and tradition in those states, said Ed Christian, chief executive officer at Burr & Forman.
“In considering expansion, we are always mindful of our clients’ needs,” Christian said. “Combining our resources greatly benefits both firms, growing our footprint into one of the largest firms in the Southeast with a collective portfolio that spans national practices and serves industries that are the cornerstone of our region’s economy.”
The acquisition will combine McNair’s practices in public finance, intellectual property, real estate, tax, economic development, government relations, trust and estates with Burr & Forman’s practices in economic development, health care, mergers and acquisitions, labor and employment, transportation, and corporate representation.
“Our entire firm is excited about the tremendous benefits that joining Burr & Forman provides to our clients and team members alike,” said David Tigges, managing shareholder of McNair. “The cultural fit and business synergy we share with Burr & Forman made this an easy decision for our shareholders”
Tigges will become a member of Burr & Forman’s executive committee, and he will be the managing partner for offices in the Carolinas.
After the acquisition, McNair will operate under the name of Burr Forman McNair for two years. After that the surviving firm will be Burr & Forman.
