Lord, Bissell agrees to merge with Texas firm

CHICAGO--Lord, Bissell & Brook L.L.C. has announced a preliminary agreement to merge with Locke, Liddell & Sapp L.L.C., a Texas-based law firm.

If approved by shareholders, the merger, announced Thursday, would close in the third quarter and create a firm with about 700 attorneys and $400 million in revenue, making the combined firm one of the largest in the United States.

Chicago-based Lord, Bissell serves U.S. and international clients in litigation, regulatory and transactional business in insurance, reinsurance, banking, health and class actions. Its insurance and reinsurance practice groups comprise more than 100 attorneys. Lord, Bissell has offices in Atlanta; London; Los Angeles; New York; Sacramento, Calif.; and Washington, D.C.

Locke, Liddell is known for practice in areas including corporate litigation, energy and real estate finance. It has about two dozen attorneys in its insurance and reinsurance practice groups. The firm has offices in Texas, Louisiana and Washington, D.C.