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May 7, 2024

Murtha Cullina to merge with NY law firm, may consolidate New Haven offices

Photo | Contributed Attorney Andy Corea is Murtha Cullina’s managing partner.
By Andrew Larson

Law firm Murtha Cullina, which is headquartered in Hartford, has signed an agreement to merge with Rochester, New York-based Harris Beach, creating a “heavyweight regional firm,” the companies announced Tuesday.

Murtha Cullina has three Connecticut offices – Hartford, New Haven and Stamford – along with offices in Boston and White Plains, New York.

In 2000, Murtha Cullina established its Boston presence by merging with Roche Carens & DeGiacomo.

As of 2023, Murtha Cullina had 62 attorneys in Connecticut and was ranked the 11th largest firm in Greater Hartford, according to the Hartford Business Journal’s Book of Lists.

Harris Beach is a larger firm, with 13 offices, mostly in New York State, including: Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Saratoga Springs, Albany, White Plains, Long Island and New York City. It also has offices in New Haven, Washington D.C. and Newark, New Jersey.

The newly combined firm, named Harris Beach Murtha, will have more than 250 attorneys across 15 offices. A spokesperson for Murtha Cullina said the firms will consider consolidating offices in locations where it has overlapping office spaces.

Harris Beach Murtha will “offer greater strength and reach throughout an expanded geographical footprint on the Northeast Corridor and throughout upstate and Western New York, accelerating the growth strategy of both firms,” according to the announcement.

During the transition, Chris Jagel, CEO of Harris Beach, and Andy Corea, managing partner of Murtha Cullina, will co-lead an interim advisory committee.

The deal requires a vote of the partners of each firm to approve the merger agreement. 

The vote is expected to occur within the next few months, with the agreement taking effect Jan. 1, 2025. Until then, the firms will continue to operate as separate entities.

Last month, there was another shakeup at Murtha Cullina. The firm announced that a five-person team specializing in intellectual property law had left to join regional firm Barclay Damon, based in New York.

Murtha Cullina said that no workforce reductions are planned as a direct result of the combination.

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